List of cathedrals in Ireland explained

This article lists the current and former cathedrals of the main Christian churches in Ireland. Since the main denominations are organised on an all-Ireland basis, this article includes information about both jurisdictions: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Overview

It is a commonly held perception that the term 'cathedral' may be applied to any particularly large or grand church. Whilst many cathedrals may be such, this is due to their ecclesiastical status (such a church is grand because it is a cathedral, rather than it being a cathedral because of its grandeur). A cathedral may therefore be a smaller building, particularly where they exist in sparser or poorer communities. Modern cathedrals may lack the grandeur of former times, focussing on the functional aspect of a place of worship, though it should be borne in mind that many of the grand and ancient cathedrals of today were originally built to a much smaller plan, and have been successively extended and rebuilt over the centuries. Some cathedrals were purpose-built as such, whilst others were formerly parochial, or parish churches, subsequently promoted in status due to ecclesiastical requirements such as periodic diocesan reorganisation.

Essentially, a cathedral church is a Christian place of worship that is the chief, or 'mother' church of an episcopal see and is distinguished as such by being the location for the cathedra or bishop's seat. Strictly speaking therefore, only those Christian denominations with an Episcopal polity possess cathedrals. However, the label 'cathedral' remains in common parlance for notable churches which were formerly part of an episcopal denomination, such as may be the case with some Scottish churches which are now within the Presbyterian Church of Scotland (see List of cathedrals in Scotland). In addition, former cathedrals which may now be in a ruined state, retain their nominal status.

The following list comprises, for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, all locations of a current cathedral church, or former cathedral church, as well as those locations where no trace remains of the structure, indeed where the precise location is no longer known.

Also included are those structures or sites of intended cathedrals as well as pro-cathedrals (churches serving as an interim cathedral), for instance, whilst a permanent cathedral is acquired, or (as a co-cathedral where the diocesan demographics/geography requires the bishop's seat to be shared with a building in an alternate location).

The inclusion of the entire island of Ireland is strictly for ecclesiastical reasons. Northern Ireland is represented because, although it politically comprises part of the United Kingdom, ecclesiastically the island comprises a single geographically based unit.

In the list which follows the cathedrals are listed by denomination and (where applicable) denominational hierarchy. Disused establishments are listed separately.

The geographical co-ordinates provided are sourced from details provided by Ordnance Survey Ireland.[1]

Terms not covered in the above preamble include translated, which is the move of a bishop's seat from one location to another, moving cathedral status from the former church and bestowing it on the destination church, such as may occur in a diocesan or provincial re-organisation.

Abbreviations and Key

Listing of establishments

Catholic Church

Province of Armagh

width=20% Establishment !width=5% Image !width=30% Dedication !width=10% Established !width=20% Notes/Provenance !width=10% Location & Website
ArmaghSt. Patrick1870Archdiocese of Armagh54.3523°N -6.6604°W
BelfastSt. Peter1866Diocese of Down and ConnorArchitects Jeremiah McAuley, a native Belfast priest and John O'Neill54.599°N -5.9444°W
CavanSt. Patrick and St. Feidlim1942Diocese of Kilmore53.9985°N -7.361°W
DerrySt. Eugene1873Diocese of Derry55°N -7.3285°W
LetterkennySt. Eunan and St. Columba1901Diocese of Raphoe54.9503°N -7.74°W
LongfordSt. Mel1840 Diocese of Ardagh and ClonmacnoisDestroyed by fire in December 2009, then restored and reopened on 24 December 2014.53.7272°N -7.7963°W
MonaghanSt. Macartan1892Diocese of Clogher54.2446°N -6.9585°W
MullingarChrist the King1936Diocese of Meath53.5269°N -7.3463°W
NewrySt. Patrick and St. Colman1829Diocese of Dromore54.1747°N -6.3377°W

Province of Cashel

width=20% Establishment !width=5% Image !width=30% Dedication !width=10% Established !width=20% Notes/Provenance !width=10% Location & Website
CobhSt. Colman1915Diocese of Cloyne51.8515°N -8.2933°W
CorkSt. Mary and St. Anne1869Diocese of Cork and Ross pro-cathedral 51.9047°N -8.4763°W
EnnisSt. Peter and St. Paul1843Diocese of Killaloe pro-cathedral 52.8416°N -8.9833°W
KillarneyThe Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary1855Diocese of Kerry (Ardfert & Aghadoe)52.0596°N -9.5185°W
LimerickSt. John the Baptist1859Diocese of Limerick52.6621°N -8.6173°W
SkibbereenSt. Patrick1826Diocese of Cork and Ross51.5522°N -9.2636°W
ThurlesThe Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary1879Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly built on the site of a Carmelite Priory52.68°N -7.8096°W
WaterfordThe Most Holy Trinity1796Diocese of Waterford and Lismore52.2614°N -7.1111°W

Province of Dublin

width=20% Establishment !width=5% Image !width=30% Dedication !width=10% Established !width=20% Notes/Provenance !width=10% Location & Website
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary1839Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin52.837°N -6.928°W
Dublin1825Archdiocese of Dublin pro-cathedral 53.3509°N -6.2591°W
St. Aidan1860Diocese of Ferns52.5024°N -6.5712°W
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary1857Diocese of Ossory52.6525°N -7.2569°W

Province of Tuam

width=20% Establishment !width=5% Image !width=30% Dedication !width=10% Established !width=20% Notes/Provenance !width=10% Location & Website
1860Diocese of Achonry53.9036°N -8.5779°W
St Muredach1892Diocese of Killala54.1127°N -9.1506°W
St. Nicholas and Our Lady Assumed into Heaven1965Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora53.2753°N -9.0574°W
St. Brendan1902Diocese of Clonfert53.197°N -8.567°W
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary1874Diocese of Elphin54.2699°N -8.4782°W
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary1837Archdiocese of Tuam53.5153°N -8.8474°W

Church of Ireland

Province of Armagh

width=20% Establishment !width=5% Image !width=20% Dedication !width=10% Established !width=5% Notes/Provenance !width=20% Location & Website !width=20% Diocese
The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St. Patrick445 54.3475°N -6.6563°W Armagh
St. Anne1904 54.6028°N -5.9285°W Connor and Down and Dromore
St. Macartan1744 on site of an ancient monastery54.4108°N -7.1719°W Clogher
St. Columb1633 54.9938°N -7.3231°W Derry and Raphoe
1818 (also known as Down Cathedral)
on site of ancient monastery
54.3279°N -5.7212°W Down and Dromore
Christ the Redeemer1609 on site of an earlier church54.4147°N -6.1517°WDown and Dromore
EnniskillenSt. Macartan1923 former 17thC parish church54.3466°N -7.641°W Clogher
St. Fethlimidh1860 Bedell Memorial Church Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh
Lisburn1662 54.5113°N -6.0418°W Connor
St. Eunan9thCon site of 6thC monastery 54.8738°N -7.5982°WDerry and Raphoe
SligoSt. Mary the Virgin and St. John the Baptist1874 54.2702°N -8.4771°WKilmore, Elphin and Ardagh

Province of Dublin

width=20% Establishment !width=5% Image !width=20% Dedication !width=10% Established !width=5% Notes/Provenance !width=20% Location & Website !width=20% Diocese
St. John the Baptist and St. Patrick's Rock1780 52.5155°N -7.8855°W Cashel and Ossory
St. Brendan53.2396°N -8.059°W Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
St. Colman51.8617°N -8.1191°W Cork, Cloyne and Ross
St. Fin Barre1870 51.8943°N -8.4803°W Cork, Cloyne and Ross
The Holy Trinity commonly called Christ Church Cathedral53.3434°N -6.271°W Dublin and Glendalough
St. Patrick The National Cathedral is not a cathedral of the Diocese of Dublin. It has a common relationship with all the dioceses of the Church of Ireland53.3394°N -6.2714°W Dublin and Glendalough
52.5897°N -6.4933°W Cashel and Ossory
St. Brigid53.1581°N -6.9114°WMeath and Kildare
St. Fachtanc.1200 partly ruined; nave in use for worship52.9911°N -9.2159°WTuam, Limerick and Killaloe
St. Canice52.6542°N -7.2575°W Cashel and Ossory
KillalaSt. Patrick17thC54.2122°N -9.2208°W Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
St. Flannan12thCfounded (on the site of an earlier monastery) in 1185 by Donal Mor O'Brien52.8065°N -8.4392°W Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
St. Laserian52.7363°N -7.0261°W Cashel and Ossory
1168 52.6681°N -8.6233°W Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Carthage52.1397°N -7.9289°W Cashel and Ossory
St. Fachtna51.5779°N -9.0297°W Cork, Cloyne and Ross
St. Patrick1954 19thC Parish Church53.5583°N -6.7906°W Meath and Kildare
St. Mary19thC53.5139°N -8.8552°W Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
The Holy Trinity1770 Commonly called Christ Church Cathedral52.2599°N -7.1076°W Cashel and Ossory

Former cathedrals

With some exceptions, these former cathedrals were established prior to the Reformation in Ireland and the subsequent transfer of Church assets to the Established church. Most had ceased to be cathedrals prior to the establishment of the Church of Ireland.

width=20% Establishment !width=5% Image !width=20% Dedication !width=10% Established !width=20% Notes/Provenance !width=20% Location & Website
1822–1997 Closed in 1997. The cathedral was built on the site of a monastery54.0774°N -8.6543°W
Aghadoe1158Abandoned by 1740. Now in ruins.52.0768°N -9.5546°W
AnnaghdownSt. Brendan10thC54.0774°N -8.6543°W
ArdaghMél of Ardagh10thCAlthough reputed to date from the time of St Mél, the structure visible today is a 9th or 10th century building.53.6671°N -7.6926°W
ArdfertSt. Brendan13thCdestroyed by fire 1641 (NM)52.3288°N -9.7819°W
Ardmore13thC51.9488°N -7.7261°W
Cashel52.5203°N -7.8911°W
ClonardSt. Johndestroyed by fire 1206
Connor + St. Saviourdestroyed in the Irish Rebellion of 1641; CI Parish Church on site54.8073°N -6.2124°W
DuleekCo. Meath
St. Mary the VirginChurch of Ireland parish church, wrecked by storm damage in the 1950s, now ruined; diocese amalgamated with Sligo53.8452°N -8.1905°W
Emly demolished 1877
FermoySt. Patrickco-cathedral, now parochial church52.1365°N -8.2798°W
GlendaloughSt. Peter and St. Paul7th-13thC (NM)53.0106°N -6.3269°W
KilmacduaghSt. Colman15thC (NM)53.0478°N -8.8881°W
Newtown-TrimSt. Peter and St. Paul15thC (NM)53.5557°N -6.772°W
Scattery IslandCo. Clare52.6142°N -9.5168°W

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Home. 21 December 2014. Ordnance Survey Ireland.