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The Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon Town

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Sacred Heart Church is the most prominent building in the town of Roscommon. It is made entirely of local stone. Construction began in 1903 and was completed in 1925.
The spire of the church rises 25 m and seems even taller as the building stands atop a small hill. The front is adorned by a small, sunken grotto.
Above the front entrance, there is an extraordinary mosaic that includes the images of two bishops responsible for the construction of the church. It was designed and executed by an Italian group called Salviate.
Inside, there is a replica of the famous Cross of Cong that dates back to 1123.


Holy Cross Abbey

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Originally the site of a Celtic monastery or hermitage, Holy Cross Abbey was established in 1169 according to the Cistercian Rule by King Donal O’Brien. The Cistercian Tradition, first brought from France to Ireland by St. Malachy, had spread rapidly upon its arrival in Ireland, and the original Holy Cross monks came here following the establishment of Monasteranenagh in County Limerick.
The Cistercians operated under a silent, self-contained rule, so the monastery was planned to include everything needed to sustain life, including plenty of land to grow crops and raise livestock.
The abbey building itself was shaped in a square, and included the church, sacristy, kitchen, refectory and chapter house. There was plenty of room to accommodate stores of food and other supplies.
Survival was difficult for the monks at Holy Cross for the first few hundred years. Then in 1414, the community was patronised by James Butler, the fourth Earl of Ormonde. He provided protection and saw to the rebuilding and renovation of much of the abbey, including the church, cloister and the infirmary, along with the addition of the Abbot’s house.
Holy Cross Abbey originally escaped closure when King Henry VIII decreed suppression of all monasteries over a certain size in 1539. In preparation for what the monks knew lie ahead, the abbot, William Dwyer, resigned and was replaced by Philip Purcell, a layman. The Cistercians lived in and around the community, avoiding persecution and keeping the abbey open for pilgrims who had come to worship the relics of the cross.
Persecution drove them into hiding for a period of time, during which the abbey deteriorated. The order decreased in number, and the last Cistercian to reside at Holy Cross was Father Edmund Cormack, who died in 1735.
Holy Cross Abbey was given over to state control and preserved by the Irish Church Act along with 137 other buildings, and declared a national monument in 1880.
In 1976, the Church Act was amended to allow Holy Cross Abbey to be renovated and again used as a local house of worship.
The church was built in the cruciform shape originally used by the Cistercians, with vaulted arches and columns. Stonework completed with chisel and mallet on the pillars was personalized by the masons, who carved their own chosen design on the pillar.
The huge window above the altar faces east, dramatically catching the morning sun. The sedilia, located in the chancel at Holy Cross, is well known throughout Europe. This structure contains the seats used by the celebrants of Mass, and is 17 feet high with a canopy and pillars. It is decorated with five shields, one between each set of arches. The first contains a cross, the second, also largest, shows a 1405 version of the English coat of arms, the third the arms of the Ormonde family, the fourth the Desmond Geraldines, and the fifth is blank.
The Cistercian monks occupied this prosperous community until the 17th century.
The Abbey is home to a relic of the true cross, owned by its founding king. It also contains a complete set of Stations of the Cross erected in honor of Padre Pio.
Today, Holy Cross Abbey is an active worship site, with novenas, weddings and monthly services dedicated to St. Padre Pio.

Carrick on Suir Heritage Centre

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This centre dedicated to the history and culture of southern County Tipperary is located in a restored Protestant church. The site was formerly occupied by Carrick Mor church, prior to the Reformation.
The town itself was originally called Carrig Mac Griffin, and was actually located on an island until the small rivers surrounding it were diverted, leaving the town only bounded by the Suir. Its records date back to 1247, when it was occupied by the Bottiler family, whose name later became Butler. The family was responsible for most of the large buildings located in the town, and later, in the 1600s, they initiated the wool industry here.
The following centuries witnessed the development of leather tanning, dairy and manufacturing industries, and the Heritage Centre displays relics of these phases of Carrick on Suir history. It also features a plate collection from Butler church and a Tourist Information Centre.
The adjoining churchyard contains many older graves, including the monument to Thomas Butler, the illegitimate son of the 10th Earl of Ormond of the same name. Also buried here is Dorothea Herbert, daughter of a rector, who wrote Retrospections. She lived from 1170-1829.

Crookedwood

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This ancient town is steeped in old Irish folklore, including the story of the Children of Lir. It is said that they lived as swans on nearby Lough Derravaraugh for nearly 300 years of the 900-year sentence imposed by their wicked stepmother, until a holy man changed them back at some point during the lifetime of St. Patrick.
The village also features the Church of Taughmon, a stone church from the 14th century with a nearby ringfort.
Crookedwood House was formerly a rectory, now a comfortable restaurant with guest rooms and a breathtaking view of the lake, noted for its delicious and unusual culinary creations.

Multyfarnham Franciscan Friary

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Renovated in 1976, the church at Multyfarnham Franciscan Friary encompasses portions of an original 15th century structure, such as the tower and nave. In 1827, the church was rebuilt around these older portions. This friary represents the only building of the monastery to survive, as the chancel and domestic outbuildings have all disappeared.
The Franciscans started their community here in 1236, and the friary became a widely respected learning centre. Persecution made survival difficult, but the Franciscans stayed on and built the church, where they remained until the 1830s.
T
he Friary church today is a special place, situated in the pastoral midlands. It has a beautiful garden with outdoor statues of the Stations of the Cross. Stained glass art created by Richard King commemorates the legendary Children of Lir, portrayed by four swans wearing necklaces. They are said to have spent 300 years as swans on nearby Lough Derravaragh. When they were finally made human again by St. Mochaomhog, they showed their age and did not survive for very long. They did, however, have enough time for the saint to baptize them into the Christian faith.

Inishbofin Early Christian Monastery

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This ecclesiastical site near Athlone was founded in the mid fifth century by St. Rioch. Of all the original buildings, only the ruins of two churches still exist.
In the northern church, the nave, transept and sacristy survive. The sacristy was added onto the church, probably during the 15th century, along with the transept and a few sound examples of medieval windows. A primitive and irregular wall surrounds the ruins of this structure.
The church located to the south is of nave and chancel design and exhibits round and pointed doors and windows.
Inishbofin monastery was attacked repeatedly over the centuries by a variety of enemies, including the Vikings. Evidence of their raids in the 10th century was found here in the form of Viking bronze work from that time period.

Cathedral of the Assumption / Carlow Cathedral

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Cathedral of the Assumption / Carlow Cathedral
Bishop James Doyle, a staunch advocate of Catholic freedom in Ireland, built this attractive church in 1883.

Features

  • The cathedral features many remarkable stained glass windows
  • It also contains original pieces of furniture such as the bishop’s chair and stalls
  • John Hogan, an Irish sculptor, has created an impressive set of of marble sculpted figures that are housed here, depicting
    • the Bishop praying for the restoration of his country
    • the country of Ireland personified as a young woman

Official Site

CarlowCathedral.ie

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St. Patrick’s Cathedral

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St. Patrick’s Cathedral
The largest church in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is located in the southwest area of the city. It is English in style, and measures 300 feet in length. Inside its square medieval tower hangs the largest set of ringing peal bells in the country. Founded circa 450, near the sacred well used by its namesake as he baptized converts, the original structure was made of wood. It was reconstructed with stone in 1192 by Archbishop John Comyn.
From the mid 17th century to the late 18th century, part of the building was used by Huguenot refugees as a house of worship.
The present building serves as the National Cathedral of the Protestant Church of Ireland. Today’s visitors move through a structure that was completed between 1254-1270. Sir Benjamin Guinness patronized extensive renovation to the cathedral in the 1860’s; it was badly needed due to the ravages of time, neglect, and desecration.
Minot’s Tower was restored in 1370 by the Archbishop of the same name, and the cathedral’s graceful spire is an addition from the 18th century.
Inside St. Patrick’s, visitors can obtain a pamphlet that introduces and provides information about the many busts and monuments located around the cathedral. Some of the most famous include: Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick’s in 1713, Douglas Hyde, the first president of Ireland, and the blind harpist Thurlough O’Carolan, the last Irish Bard.
Swift’s grave is also located here, in the south aisle, near his beloved “Stella”, Mrs. Esther Johnson. Swift’s epitaph was hailed by W.B. Yeats as one of the best of all time. It is translated as follows… “Swift has sailed to his rest; savage indignation there cannot lacerate his breast.”
Also of interest inside the cathedral, the choir of St. Patrick, hung with beautiful and varied medieval banners, and the old door at the west end of the nave. Originally part of the Chapter House, it played a role in the resolution of the feud between Lords Ormonde and Kildare in 1492. Ormonde sought safety from Kildare behind the door, and stayed there while a truce was negotiated. Upon reaching agreement, Kildare cut a hole in the door, through which the two men shook hands to seal their pact. The hole in the door is still visible today.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is adjoined by a small park, which contains the sacred well of St. Patrick and a variety of other statues. A permanent exhibit called “Living Stones” commemorates St. Patrick and his important contributions to the city of Dublin and the entire country.

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Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford City

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Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford City
This 18th century cathedral in Waterford City is considered one of Ireland’s finest neoclassical Georgian structures. The current building replaced the original Neo Gothic cathedral built by Bishop Cheneix.
Some of its most appealing features include Corinthian columns and the elegant yellow paint color, trimmed in white with intricate floral and laurel designs. The cathedral’s windows are made of clear glass only, as the bishop at the time of construction was not fond of the traditional stained glass.
Christ Church Cathedral was designed by John Roberts, who also created Holy Trinity Cathedral, as well as many other buildings in the Waterford City area. The two churches are collectively known as the Holy Trinity Cathedrals, Christ Church Cathedral is a nickname.

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Holy Trinity Cathedral, Waterford City

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Holy Trinity Cathedral, Waterford City
This Roman Catholic house of worship was designed and built during the late 18th century, a particularly difficult and turbulent period for the religion in Irish history. It is widely known as the oldest Roman Catholic Cathedral in Ireland and the only one that is decidedly Baroque in style. It is an elegant and ornate structure, complete with vaulted ceilings, ornamental pillars, and the added embellishment of authentic Waterford Crystal chandeliers.
The architect of Holy Trinity Cathedral, John Roberts, also designed a sister church for protestant worshippers nicknamed Christ Church. He was responsible for the design of most of the structures built in Waterford City during his life span (1714-96). He was also the father of 22 children.

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St. Anne’s Church, Cork City

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St. Annes Church, Cork City
This popular Cork City landmark, visible across the area, was built in 1722.

Also called Shandon Church, its steeple holds eight distinctive bells of the same name, for which the poem by Francis Mahony was written.

Features

  • St Anne’s stone tower has a unique pepper-pot steeple with a golden ball and salmon-shaped weather vane at its apex
  • The tower also features a clock with a face on each side, which was known as the “four faced liar” until the different times displayed on each clock face were recently synchronized
  • The Cork football and hurling teams derived their colours from the church’s walls of red limestone and sandstone
  • St Anne’s is located next to Ferkin Crane, the 18th century butter market, and Shandon Craft Market
  • Visitors that climb the 120-foot tall tower can enjoy a chance to ring the bells out across the city as well as the panoramic views

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St Finbarr’s Cathedral, Cork City

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St Finbarrs Cathedral, Cork City

Saint Finnbar’s/Fin Barre’s Anglican Cathedral, is a Church of Ireland cathedral located in the centre of Cork city.

History

  • The founder of Cork City chose the site of this 1880 church to build his original church and school around the year 650
  • The current building replaced a structure from 1735, and only its original bells remain

Features

  • St. Finnbar’s Cathedral is an ornate building, with three huge spires in the early French Gothic tradition
  • It features an organ of 3,000 pipes and the interior is highlighted by unique and stunning mosaics

Official Site

Cathedral.cork.anglican.org

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St. Anne’s Cathedral (Belfast Cathedral)

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St. Annes Cathedral (Belfast Cathedral)
St Anne’s Cathedral, also known as Belfast Cathedral, was erected at the turn of the 20th century upon the site of the original of St Anne’s Parish Church.

History

  • The cathedral was founded by the Marquis of Donegal
  • He named it for his first wife, Lady Anne Hamilton
  • The original St. Anne’s Church was torn down to make room for the cathedral
  • The Countess of Shaftesbury laid the cornerstone in 1899
  • The cathedral was built and finally consecrated in 1903

Outside, the Cathedral looks rather gloomy but inside is definitely worth a visit.

  • Captivating mosaics, created in the 1920s, cover the ceiling of the baptistery
  • One mosaic is made up of more than 150,000 pieces
  • Irish marble and Canadian maple decorate the nave and aisles
  • Lord Carson (1854-1935), the leading opponent of Home Rule, is buried here under a plain gray stone slab in the south aisle.

Location

Donegall St., Belfast – Google Maps

Official Site

BelfastCathedral.org
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St. Columb’s Cathedral, Derry City

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St. Columbs Cathedral, Derry City
Built on what was formerly the site of the monastery founded by St. Columba, the cathedral was under construction from 1628-1633. It was the first Protestant Cathedral built in Britain or Ireland following the reformation. Most of the Protestant houses of worship at the time were converted Catholic institutions. ST. Columb’s original set of bells is perhaps the oldest in the entire country.
St. Columb’s Cathedral contains numerous relics of the Siege of 1688-89, including a 270 lb. mortar ball that was fired over the city wall at the beginning of the siege, offering terms of surrender to the people of Derry from King James II himself. The reply was a resounding cry of “no surrender”, which has endured into modern times as a popular Protestant battle cry.
The church was built in Planter’s Gothic style, and its spire is visible throughout the city. The current spire is the church’s third – the previous two were struck by lightning and melted into metal for ammunition during the siege, respectively.
The exterior of the building is fortress-like, with thick stone walls. Inside, there are some exquisite features, such as the bishop’s chair from 1630 and a Killybegs altar carpet. The cathedral’s 214 oak pews come from native Derry wood, and they have been hand carved to make each one a unique work of art.
The Chapter House displays a collection of siege artifacts, including the locks and keys of the four main city gates, a map of Derry from 1600, and the personal Bible of George Walker, who was governor during the siege.
Stones in the adjoining graveyard lie flat, toppled during the siege to protect the graves beneath from cannonball fire.

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Ardfert Cathedral

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Ardfert Cathedral
Historical Adfert Cathedral and its complex of churches is connected to a monastery founded on the site by St. Brendan the Navigator in the sixth century.
St. Brendan is a popular and interesting figure among the Irish saints of the Roman Catholic Church who maintains a very dedicated following even to this day. Born in the area near Ardfert Cathedral, he was a great scholar who founded many monestaries. Brendan became known as the Navigator because of his adventurous journeys. One manuscript from 1050, called Navagatio Sanct Brendani has survived in several languages —Norse, French, and Flemish among them. It tells the story of St. Brendan’s travels to Wales, Iceland, and then, as many believe, on to North America.
If some modern explorers are correct, St. Brendan landed on North American shores about 900 years before Columbus made his journey. St. Brendan is believed to have been buried at Clonfert Cathedral in County Galway, and there are numerous heritage sites around the country dedicated to the saint and his voyages.
Here at Ardfert Cathedral, the main building dates back to the 12th century. Much of it is in ruined condition, although restoration projects are underway. The cathedral’s attractive Romanesque doorway is intact, along with the south transept where exhibits featuring items of religious historical significance.
Ardfert Cathedral’s east window is also remarkable, with two 14th century ecclesiastical figures standing watch on each side, as well as the row of nine lancets upon the south wall.
The remains of two other churches stand on the same property. One was a Romanesque chancel church named Teampall na Hoe, and the other a Gothic chapel called Teampall na Griffin, which derives its name from the interesting creatures carved on its interior.

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Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, Galway City

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Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, Galway City
Anglo Norman settlers built this church in 1320, and renovations and enlargements over the centuries have left its walls adorned with many interesting carvings, including exceptional gargoyles, from medieval times.
The church is among the most well preserved in Ireland. St. Nicholas is said to have been the last prayer stop for Christopher Columbus before he departed on his journey to North America.
A popular street market is held every Saturday morning on the street near the church.

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Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St. Nicholas, Galway City

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Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St. Nicholas, Galway City
The largest catholic church in Galway, the cathedral is located on Nun’s Island, on the west bank of the River Corrib near Salmon Weir Bridge. It was the last large church in Ireland to be made from stone, and features a huge octagonal dome that complements the skyline of the City of Galway.
The cathedral was designed by J.J. Robinson and combines many features from different styles and periods of architecture, such as its Romanesque nave arches, Spanish choir area, and Gothic windows. The ceiling is made with American wood from the Pacific Northwest, and the towers are often described as Renaissance in nature.
There are many treasures of art inside, including a mosaic of the crucifixion by Patrick Pollen, and a variety of intricate stained glass windows throughout the building. The outside features an extraordinary statue of the Blessed Virgin as well as bronze panels and handles that decorate the west door, created by artist Imogen Stuart. Also notable are the Stations of the Cross by Gabriel Hayes.
Dedicated to Boston’s Cardinal Cushing, the cathedral is a treasure trove of modern church art. Combined with its unique, eclectic design, the atmosphere inside is warm and inviting. Bishop Michael Browne, who achieved his goal in building a church ‘worthy of Galway‘.
Erected on the site of an old jail, the parking lot of the cathedral contains a white cross in the pavement. It marks the site of the prison graveyard.

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Ballintubber Abbey

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Ballintubber Abbey
The village of Ballintubber is located just south of Castlebar in County Mayo, on the famed pilgrimage route to Croagh Patrick, also known as Ireland’s Holy Mountain. St. Patrick himself is said to have established the church at Ballintubber.
The area’s attractions include the restored remains of Ballintubber Abbey, built by King Cathal O’Conor in 1216. The abbey church is still used for worship, and is the only church in the country, still operating, that was founded by an Irish King. The abbey is located on the shores of Lough Carra.
King Cathal Crovdearg O’Conor, also known as ‘Catha Mor of the wine red hand’, was the son of Turlach O’Conor, who commissioned the creation of the Cross of Cong, an Irish treasure. The members of the O’Conor family were widely known as distinguished patrons of the arts. Local folklore recounts the story of Ballintubber Abbey as follows:
King Cathal’s father, Turloch, was King of Connemara. Due to a dispute after Turloch’s death, Cathal was driven into exile by the Queen, and prevented from taking the throne immediately. He spent a good deal of this time at Ballintubber, and was made comfortable by a kindly man named Mr. Sheridan.
Some time later, after Cathal finally became king, he paid a visit to Mr. Sheridan, now elderly. King Cathal, in an effort to repay the old man’s past generosity, offered to grant him whatever he wished. Sheridan’s response was to request that the village church, which was in disrepair, be renovated.
The King promised a completely new church for the village, but a miscommunication resulted in the church being built at a site in Roscommon, instead of in County Mayo. Mr. Sheridan mistakenly assumed that the King had not kept his word. The error was discovered years later, and King Cathal commissioned an even finer church for the village of Ballintubber.
Finally built in 1216 at the order of King Cathal, the church at the abbey is located next to St.Patrick’s Well, in the village named Baile an Tobair, from which comes the name Ballintubber. St. Patrick was said to have baptized converts to Christianity at the well, and a stone there is marked with the impression of his knee.
In the years that followed its construction, Ballintubber Abbey endured through fire, persecution, and attack.
The Annals of the Four Masters mention the burning of the abbey in 1265. According to the text, only a small portion of the church itself burned, and was soon rebuilt.
In 1603, after King James I confiscated all religious properties, the Canon Regulars, or the order that occupied the abbey, were dissolved. They were a group made up of secular priests, mostly nobles by birth, who lived a religious life according to the teachings of St. Augustine.
History says that a few Augustinian friars may have inhabited Ballintubber Abbey for a while, but Cromwell’s soldiers burned the structures again in 1653. This time, all of the living quarters and other buildings were completely destroyed. Still, somehow a portion of the church survived.
The abbey lay in ruins until 1846, when large-scale restoration of the church began. The reconstruction plan included replacing the roof along with the nave and transepts. The arrival of the famine in 1847 halted the project, and work was suspended for a period of about four years.
During all these years, despite obstacles, Mass was said at Ballintubber every day. After the famine passed, restoration work continued. The abbey’s reputation for nearly 700 years of uninterrupted offering of Masses attracted the interest of Irish people and Christians everywhere, and help poured in from around the world.
The church was completely restored when the Mass celebrating Ballintubber’s 750th anniversary was celebrated in 1966.
The Dorter area and Chapter House restoration work was completed in 1997, and these buildings now serve as centres for religious education and retreats. The restoration work continues, looking forward to the abbey’s 800th anniversary in 2016.

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Church Island

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Church Island
Church Island, also known as Shrine Island, is located in the northwest portion of Lough Carra. According to local folklore, it was initially used as a burial place for kings. Archeological data indicates that human life existed here as long ago as 3000 B.C.
Some documented inhabitants of the island include:
•St. Finan, who established a monastery here in the 6th century,
•Marbhan, a writer who lived the life of a hermit,
•Cummin Mac Fiachra, a priest who was known for his dedication to the work of decorating many of the nearby Ballintubber Abbey’s scrolls and books.
Cummin’s Church dates back to the 14th century. Today it is a popular site for religious retreats and times of reflection. The church features an altar made of black oak, which grew in this part of the country thousands of years ago.
There is evidence of a nearby hiding hole of the type used by priests during the Penal Times. This suggests that the church was used as a haven for those who attended Mass in secret during times of persecution.
Excavations conducted on Church Island have also unearthed burial plots near the church that appear to have been used extensively during the years of the Great Famine.

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St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Roman Catholic), Armagh City

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St. Patricks Cathedral (Roman Catholic), Armagh City
St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral is an imposing site, perched on the hilltop in Armagh and dominating its skyline.

The church was begun in 1840, but because of the intervening famine years, not completed until 1873.

Features

  • The cathedral was designed and built in Neo Gothic style from pale limestone, with two spires
  • Sculptured statuary forms a unique arch over the main entrance
  • Inside there is a rich Austrian oak woodwork and an Irish granite altar
  • The painted ceiling is ornate
  • The walls are painted with rich colours that blend easily with the stained glass windows

Official Site

Armagharchdiocese.org

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St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Church of Ireland), Armagh City

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St. Patricks Cathedral (Church of Ireland), Armagh City

  • In 445, St. Patrick reportedly erected the original building that occupied the site of the present Cathedral
  • The church that stands today dates to the early 19th century, in the Gothic tradition
  • Some of the statues hark back to Celtic / pagan times and reflect pre-Christian beliefs and customs
  • The church has been destroyed and rebuilt 17 times

Brian Boru

  • The church contains many relics and sites of historical importance, including the burial place of Brian Boru
  • A huge figure in early Irish history, Brian Boru was born in 940 at Munster
  • He witnessed the Viking killings of many members of his tribe, including his mother
  • From a young age he was committed to driving the Vikings from Ireland
  • He trained himself and his tribal army in the art of battle and began to drive his enemies back to their homeland
  • Brian Boru became a powerful leader, and battled his way to the High Kingship of Ireland
  • Brian Boru was the last of the High Kings to sit at the traditional throne at Tara
  • As High King, Brian Boru made valiant efforts to restore churches ruined by the invaders, and replace artifacts and manuscripts that were lost and destroyed during the pillaging
  • At the Battle of Clontarf, on Good Friday 1014, Brian Boru and his forces defeated the Vikings, smashing their military power in Ireland forever
  • As the Vikings were retreating, one of their leaders, named Bothair, murdered Brian Boru
  • His tomb lies in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, intricately carved by the sculptors Roubilliac and Rysbrack

Official Site

StPatricks-Cathedral.org

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Grey Abbey

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Grey Abbey
Located on the picturesque shores of Strangford Lough, the remains of Grey Abbey sit in the middle of picturesque parkland. The 12th century Cistercian monastery church and cloister are still visible, as well as the re-created herb garden used by the medieval monks to prepare medicinal remedies.
Affreca, whose father was King of the Isle of Man, founded the settlement in 1193. The elegant Gothic building was the result of a combination of the French Cistercian order, which came from Cumbria, and the Anglo Norman style. The church was burned during the Elizabethan wars and later restored – it was a house of worship until 1778. It features an extraordinary pointed doorway and a row of lancet windows on the east wall.

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Devenish Island Monastery

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Devenish Island Monastery
Devenish Island encompasses an area of roughly 70 acres and is located in the southern part of Lower Lough Erne. It contains one of the finest surviving examples of the medieval round tower in all of Ireland. In addition, there are ruins of a monastic settlement, including two churches, the monastery and an oratory, all in close proximity on the southern end of the island.
The Devenish Island monastic community was founded in the 6th century by Saint Molaise, who was described as a man who lived an extraordinary life that was touched repeatedly by the supernatural. Legends say that once, when a snowstorm struck while he was in the midst of an important journey, no snow accumulated on his tent as it had on those of his fellow travelers. St. Molaise was said to have listened intently to the voice of the Holy Spirit in silence during the entire time of the building of the monastery. His feast day is celebrated on September 12th.
During its years of operation, Devenish Island monastery was a site of worship and education. It also shared the work of copying and illuminating important manuscripts with many other Irish monastic communities. This task was especially important because it kept the written treasures of civilization alive after the fall of the Roman Empire, when many copies of then were destroyed.
In 836 and 923, Vikings came to the area, raiding Devenish Island and destroying the monastery and its churches. They were eventually rebuilt. The round tower was used during that period for the dual purpose of keeping sacred documents safe from the raiding parties and standing as a monument to the faith community it served to protect.
During the 12th century, the Church experienced an organizational shift away from the monasteries and toward the diocesan model that included bishops and division into parishes. The Devenish monastic community continued with a secular membership in place, including priests known as culdees, who ministered to the people in many of the same ways as their predecessors, the monks.
In 1259, the alliance of Brian O’Neill, King of Ulster, and Hugh O’Connor, King of Connacht, was cemented against the English on Devenish Island. Its location was conveniently suited for meetings and wartime strategy sessions.
The remains of the Upper Church suggest a15th century, Irish Gothic style of architecture. It is called St. Mary’s Abbey and was used by an Augustinian order that operated on the Island along with the culdees. In 1630, the land was given to Sir John Davies and all religious communities were disbanded.

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The Steam Museum

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The Steam Museum
Exhibits at the Steam Museum, located in the town of Straffan, County Kildare, revive the image of the Irish Steam engine, and depict it as it was used in industry (manufacturing) and agriculture (churning butter, threshing corn) over the years.
The Steam Museum building is a former church from the Inchicore Rail works of Dublin. It houses models of steam locomotives such as Great Northern Railway engines from the 19th century, and whiskey distillery and brewing machines from Dublin, Kilkenny and County Cork businesses of the 1800s.
“Live Steam Days” are held here on Sundays and holidays attended by engineers.

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Castledermot Round Tower, Crosses and Church

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Castledermot Round Tower, Crosses and Church

The Castledermot monastic settlement was established by St. Dermot and recorded as the target of extensive Viking raids in 841 and 867. The monastic community itself ceased to exist sometime after 1073.

The site at Castledermot today offers visitors the chance to observe the following sites of archaeological interest:

  • The church, which features a reconstructed Romanesque doorway rising dramatically from the ruins.
  • The North Cross, whose panels contain legible depictions of life scenes of religious figures such as King David, Isaac, and Jesus as he performed various miracles.
  • The South Cross, with two of its panels clearly showing biblical scenes such as Christ being arrested, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, and Adam and Eve.

At the very edge of Castledermot stand the ruins of a Franciscan Friary estimated to have been founded in 1302 by Thomas, Lord of Ossong. The original building was long and rectangular in shape, with lancet windows and a tower. Additions were made to the building at later points in history.

An interesting note – local history records that when one of the walls of the abandoned friary collapsed years ago, a hollow area was revealed that contained a number of human skeletons.

The round tower is one of only two in Ireland that visitor can climb. The other is St. Canice’s Round Tower in Kilkenny.

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Costello Memorial Chapel, Carrick-on-Shannon

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Costello Memorial Chapel, Carrick on Shannon
This tiny but exquisite memorial was designed and built in Carrick-on-Shannon as a burial place for Mary Josephine Costello, who died on October 6, 1877. She was 47 years old when she died. Her husband, Edward Costello, was a local trader. He had her body embalmed and placed with a nearby nunnery for safekeeping while the chapel was being built.
Completed in April of 1879, the dedication ceremony included a Requiem Mass for Mary. Her beautifully adorned casket was placed in a sunken area to the left of the entrance door, where it was covered with a specially made glass. Until 1897, Mass was said on every first Friday of the month in the chapel. When Edward died in March of that year, he was laid to rest on the right side of the chapel. The couple had no other family members.
Costello Chapel, the smallest in Ireland and the second smallest in the entire world, is 16 feet long and 12 feet wide. Nestled among more modern buildings in the town of Carrick-on-Shannon, its entrance is marked by two stone pillars topped by beautifully designed Celtic crosses. The Costello coat of arms is visible at the top of the gable, its Latin words translate to-“Seek not thyself outside thyself.” The entrance door is fashioned from decorative wrought iron.
Inside, the entire building is made from bath stone- there is no woodwork. The beautifully decorated marble altar sits in front of the single stained glass window. Between the two glass-covered burial sites stand panels of tiles showing scenes from the life of Jesus. When the dedication ceremony was planned in 1879, a special chalice was commissioned and used for the First Friday masses. It was passed on to St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church following Edward Costello’s death.

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Cloonmorris Church and Ogham Stone

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Cloonmorris Church and Ogham Stone
Located in the village of Mohill, this church was connected to the Augustinian priory here. It is a church of simple design from around 1200, with lancet windows and mouldings decorated with the figures of upturned heads. The north doorway appears to have been added in the 15th century.
There is an Ogham stone standing near the attached graveyard, with a single recognizable inscription that reads ‘Qenuven.’
Ogham Stones are marker stones inscribed with the Ogham alphabet, which was named after Ogham, the god of eloquence. The alphabet originated around the fifth century and contained 25 different letters. It reads from top to bottom or right to left, and came from ancient Celtic languages. Twenty of the letters are related to the names of trees that were deemed sacred by the druids, including birch, yew, ash, hawthorn, oak, apple, ivy, elder, fir, gorse, and poplar. The stones were traditionally used as boundary markers and burial stones.
‘The Book of Ballymote’, written in the 15th century and kept at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, says that the Ogham alphabet originated from a secret language steeped in magical ritual. The Ogham stones exist in various areas around Ireland.

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Glens Centre

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Glens Centre
This performing arts centre in Manorhamilton is located in a former Methodist Church built in the 1820s. It houses facilities for theatre productions, recording studios, offices and rehearsal spaces. It offers classes and lessons in music, youth theatre, and arts and crafts.
Musical performers come here from all around Europe and the United States, and Glens Centre maintains a complete programme of musical, theatre and film performances, as well as readings by local authors, for residents and visitors.

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Newtown Cathedral

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Newtown Cathedral
The ruins of this once splendid cathedral stand along the banks of the River Boyne. It is one of many sites in and around Trim that housed ancient ecclesiastical structures. The cathedral was built by Simon de Rochfort, Meath’s first Anglo Norman bishop, in 1210, and illustrates the prevalent Irish architectural style during that era.

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St. Mary’s Church, Navan

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St. Mary’s Church, Navan
One of the two main churches of the parish, St. Mary’s is an 1839 structure that houses a unique wood sculpture of the Crucifixion created by Edward Smyth, a famous Irish sculptor from the period with roots in Navan.

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Corracrin Church

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Corracrin Church
St. Patrick’s Church at Corracrin is located on the Dublin Road near the village of Emyvale in County Monaghan. Its churchyard is well known as the burial place of Canon Patrick Moynagh, a priest who helped many local citizens emigrate to Canada during the Famine of 1845.

Between 1830 and 1850, thousands from Monaghan and surrounding counties travelled to and settled on Prince Edward Island, sometimes referred to as New Ireland. They built communities, tended their farms, and practised their trades. They moved on to a prosperous new life, but did not forget Ireland or Reverend Moynagh.

Canon Patrick Moynagh served as parish priest at Donagh until the time of his death in 1860. He was a man remembered for giving freely to the poor. He paid the passage of many of the emigrants to Prince Edward Island, and these emigrants established a connection between the Canadian island and County Monaghan that exists even to the present time.

After Reverend Moynagh’s death his parishioners built a memorial tomb in his honor at St. Patrick’s Church at Corracrin, which is still visited by locals and visiting descendants of the emigrants from Prince Edward Island.

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Gallen Church and Cross Slabs

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Gallen Church and Cross Slabs
Gallen Church sits on the original site of a monastery that was established in 492. A group of Welsh monks restored the community after its buildings were burned in 820. They operated a school at this location for many years afterward.
Today, there is a church from the 13th century located there, along with a group of rare cross slabs from the early Christian period. The slabs probably date back to the 8th to 11th century. Quite a few of then have been used in the rebuilding of the church, attached to the gables. One of the slabs is inscribed with the words OR DO BRALIN. The slab located at the centre of the church is intricately carved with deer, fretwork and interlacing. Another features a ringed cross with a solitary figure standing beneath it.

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Rahan Churches

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Rahan Churches
There are two churches on this site, portions of which date back to the 15th century.
The first, a roofed church – was originally built during the 12th century, although few of the oldest parts remain visible. It was built in the shape of a cross, but only the center beam survives. The remains contain some striking Romanesque features in the chancel, including an arch that is decorated with ornamental sculptures of heads. The east wall of the chancel once contained an original 13th century window, recently replaced by a modern one. Also during the 13th century, a vault was added, along with a special chamber above the altar.
The nave, added in 1732, sits atop a 15th century foundation and features a window decorated with depictions of a dragon eating its own tail, along with a griffin and bird. In the east gable, there is a beautifully decorated round Romanesque window.
Another church stands close by, estimated to date back to the 15th or 16th century. It also appears to have incorporated parts of earlier churches standing on the same spot, including a fine Romanesque doorway and windows. It also appears to have stones that may have been taken from the roofed church at some point in time.
The site of the churches at Rahan had its beginnings as an ecclesiastical region in 580. Constantine, a Cornish King, retired there from his throne and became a monk. The monastic community was founded by Saint Cartach, a prominent figure in Early Christian Irish history. He was forced into retirement at Lismore, County Waterford, in 636.
The settlement was reestablished in 760 by Fidhairle Ua Sleanaigh and operated until sometime during the twelfth century, after which only the two churches survived.

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Tihilly Church and High Cross

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Tihilly Church and High Cross
Saint Fintan began a monastery here and then went on to Slieve Margy, leaving the community in the care of a nun called Cera. She died in 670, and records indicate that the monastery also burned during that year. It was rebuilt, and records cite a man named Robbartach as the last abbot to serve in the year 936.
Today, a single church survives on the site, made almost entirely of the stones of churches past. A High Cross stands nearby, on a round pedestal, dating back to the 9th century. It features carvings of Adam and Eve and the Crucifixion on the face that points westward. Animal and geometric motifs, as well as interlacing patterns, decorate the remaining panels.

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Ardcarn

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Ardcarn
During the 6th century, a monastery flourished at this site. Ardcarn was designated as a diocese in the province of Connaught in 1111. It was later combined with Roscommon, Elphin and Drumcliff to make up the diocese of Elphin at the synod of Kells in 1152. This diocesan makeup of the area exists to the present day.
Ardcarn served as a market centre of the sheep and wool trade for many years.
The parish church remains, as well as the surrounding area, which contains earthworks and the last vestiges of what was once a thriving medieval village.

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Roscommon Dominican Friary

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Roscommon Dominican Friary
The ruins of the Dominican Friary date back to 1253. The church was consecrated in 1257. It was built by Felim O’Conor, who was Lord of Roscommon at that time.

A transept was added to the single aisle church in the 15th century, and its original lancet windows were replaced by tracery windows, some of which survive in the existing south wall.

The north wall contains a carved effigy of Felim O’Conor that was created sometime during the last decade of the 13th century. Since the 15th century, it has marked a tomb along with a carving of eight warriors, clad in mail and brandishing weapons. Angels overlook the tomb from their niches in the wall above.

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Boyle Cistercian Abbey

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Boyle Cistercian Abbey

Building operations on this Cistercian Abbey located in the town of Boyle, began in 1161. Today it is considered to be one of Ireland’s most well preserved religious sites.

The huge tower that still stands was begun along with the rest of the original building, with portions added over the years to increase its height. At the end of the 12th century, the eastern nave, with arches and ornate pillars that still stand, was erected, along with the northern side. The pillars here are very different in appearance, although they date back to the same time period. The church itself was consecrated in 1218.

Also surviving are the gatehouse, which now contains the interpretative centre, and two doorways that date back to the year 1200. Most of the cloister has disappeared.

Other buildings on the site can be traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The settlement was taken over by Cromwellian forces in 1659.

In the years before Cromwell’s armies invaded, Boyle Cistercian Abbey was one of the most widely recognized in all of Connaught, and survived invasions by Richard de Burgo, Justiciar and Maurice Fitzgerald.

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St. Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower

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St. Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower

Built in the 13th century, St. Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny. It is second only to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin in consecutive years of worship.

The structure has endured vandalism and the ravages of time to remain standing as one of the most solemn yet impressive churches in the country as well.

History

  • The first church built on this site was erected in the 6th century by St. Canice, who established a monastic settlement here.
  • It was this first church that gave the city its name. The Gaelic origin of Kilkenny – Cill Channigh – literally means the Church of Canice.
  • In the mid 13th century, it was Bishop O’Deleaney’s wish that a cathedral be built on the site of the old monastic settlement of Saint Canices, since Kilkenny had come into his remit
  • The bishop died before the construction was completed

Features

  • The exterior is Early English style, and plenty of renovation was done in 1866.
  • The interior is Gothic, and appears sombre but striking due to the use of black marble, taken from nearby quarries. Medieval statuary is plentiful, both on tombstones and as memorials.
  • Some of the figures distinguish themselves by appearing in full suits of armour.
  • Particularly striking and noteworthy is a female figure dressed in a Kinsale cloak.

Round Tower

Alongside the cathedral sits Kilkenny’s oldest standing structure, the Round Tower.

Standing 102 feet high and mountable by wooden stairs, the Round Tower at St. Canice’s is one of only two Irish Round Towers that people can climb. The other is Kildare Round Tower.

The view at the top of the tower offers the best vistas over Kilkenny city.

Built in 847 by King O’Carroll of Ossory. was originally part of the monastic community at the root of the city, and it is one of the few buildings that still survive.

The Close

On the grounds of the Cathedral, there are some other sites worth visiting, including:

  • A 300 year old library, housing a collection of antiquarian volumes dating back to the 16th and 17th century
  • The organist’s cottage – a charming 17th century period cottage
  • The deanery – an 18th century building
  • The sexton’s house – a section of which dates from the 6th century
  • The graveyard – a small cemetery with hand-cut headstones dating back to the 1600s

Because of its quaint setting, the close has been used as a location for films as weddings.

Official Site

St. Canice’s Cathedral

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The Black Abbey, Kilkenny

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The Black Abbey, Kilkenny

Just south of St. Canice’s Cathedral, you can find Kilkenny’s Black Abbey.

The abbey is named after the Dominican order of monks, known for their black capes, who founded it in 1225.

History

  • The priory was established in 1225 by William Marshall the younger, Earl of Pembroke.
  • Despite becoming a property of the British crown in 1540, Dominican communities remained there until sixty years. In 1603, they were eventually evicted, when it was ordered that the building become a courthouse.
  • Cromwell’s forces destroyed the priory building in 1650, leaving only the walls.
  • In 1816, they Dominicans rebuilt a church on the site.
  • In 1979, the building was fully restored .

Features

The abbey houses the famous five-gabled, stained glass Rosary Window, depicting the life of Christ in gleaming sapphire and ruby glass.

Also featuring intricate stone carvings, Black Abbey is a true medieval marvel.

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St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick

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St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick
Limerick City’s oldest church, gets surprisingly few visitors for such a beautiful building.

St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral began as a palace, and some parts of the original building still stand.

History

The cathedral was founded by King Donal Mor O’Brien, who was also responsible for the cathedral at Cashel and Holy Cross Abbey, Tipperary.

It was restored several times during the Victorian era.

Features

A mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles, the majority of the present day structure survives from the restoration of the building in 1580 by Bishop Folan.

The interior includes beautiful stained glass windows, as well as ornate wood carvings on the misericords (support shelves) of the choir stalls

These misericords are the only remaining pre-Elizabethan carvings in Ireland.

The 21 carvings represent popular middle-age symbols, including

  • a unicorn goat
  • a griffin
  • a sphinx
  • a wild boar
  • a swan
  • an eagle
  • a cockatrice holding its tail
  • the Lion of Judah with a dragon
  • an angel the head of Henry IV
  • a dragon biting its tail
  • two antelopes with intertwined necks

The main altar consists of an impressive 13-foot long stone slab.

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Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church

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Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church

The Church run by the Carmelite order on Whitefriar street is a popular choice for couples, because it holds the remains of Saint Valentine.

Despite its drab external appearance, this 19th-century Byzantine building is worth visiting for its relaxing, peaceful atmosphere, and beautiful interior.

The church is cathedral like, with tall ceilings, impressive arches and decorative stain-glass windows. What makes the church most worth visiting, however, are its unique shrines.

Shrine of Saint Valentine

Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church

Valentine’s relics – bones and a small vessel tinged with his blood — were gifted to an Irish Carmelite named John Spratt in 1836 by Pope Gregory XVI in 1836. The remains are kept in a pretty shrine on the right hand side of the church. On 14th February each year, they are placed on the main altar.

Read more about the Shrine of Saint Valentine.

Shrine of Our Lady of Dublin with the Christ Child

The church also holds a life-sized black oak woodcarving of the Virgin, dating from the 16th century. The statue would have originally been brightly painted, but was later whitewashed over for, presumably for concealment. The removal of the whitewash in 1914 also unfortunately removed the underlying colours.

  • The statue was originally located in St Mary’s Cistercian Abbey, across Dublin’s River Liffey, in Mary Street.
  • When St. Mary’s Abbey was surrendered in 1539 due to the Dissolution of the Monasterie by Henry VIII.
  • Local legend says the statue was hidden and preserved, by being used, face down, as a shallow trough for pigs in an nearby yard, though there is no evidence to support this.
  • Hollowing the backs of wooden statues was a common method of concealment in an era of suppression, since it helped both to reduce their weight and prevent the wood from splitting.
  • The statue was eventually discovered by Carmelite John Spratt in a Dublin pawn shop in 1824. The original metal crown had been melted down and sold for the value of the metal.
  • The child’s outstretched arm was added as part of a restoration.

Shrine of St Albert of Sicily

In the main entrance off Aungier Street there is a  Shrine of St Albert of Sicily, the patron saint of Trapani.

On August 7th, Saint Albert’s feats day, a relic of the saint is dipped into the water of St. Albert’s Well.  The water is left in the Shrine, and visitors are free to take ‘Saint Albert’s Water’, which some believe to have healing properties.

Visitor Tips

  • Valentine’s Day is the one day when Whitefriar Street Church is crowded with tourists. If you want a less touristy experience, choose another date.
  • Be aware that this is still a functioning church. Be respectful.
  • If a mass has started, wait until it’s over to browse around so you won’t disrupt the service or feel awkward. A mass usually lasts no more than an hour maximum.

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Gallarus Oratory

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Gallarus Oratory

The Gallarus Oratory in the Dingle Peninsula is an early medieval stone church in the shape of an upturned boat.

Overlooking Smerwick Harbour, also known as Ard na Caithne, and about two miles from the village of Ballyferriter, the Oratory is the best example of an unusual architectural style that was once common in this region of County Kerry.

The Gaelic name for the Oratory is Séipéilín Ghallarais, meaning “The Church of the Place of the Outsiders” — outsiders being people who were not from the Dingle region.

History

The oratory had long been dated to the 6th century to the 9th century. But more recently, archaeologists have argued that the 12th century is a more likely date, due to the design of east window.

The oratory would have been a place of Christian worship for local farmers.

Architecture

Along with its unusual shape, what’s impressive about the Gallarus Oratory is that it appears to have built without any form of cement — just stones packed tightly together.

Traces of mortar have been uncovered, however, suggesting that the interior may have been plastered.

The entrance doorway is 5 feet 5 inches high, which suggests that Irish people were shorter in early medieval times than they are today!

The oratory remains firmly intact today, despite the hundreds of years of strong winds from the Altantic, and its unusual V-shaped structure remains.

Visitor Tip – The Visitor Centre is Not Mandatory

As you travel along the road leading to the Oratory (the R559), you will see a sign for the Gallarus Oratory Visitor Center pointing left up a driveway. Here, where you will pay a small fee both for parking and to watch a 15-minute video about the Oratory. There is also a gift shop. From here, you will cross a private field to view the Oratory.

Many visitors enjoy the video and want to buy gifts.

However, you are obliged to stop at this private car park / visitor centre — the Gallarus Oratory is 100% FREE to visit.

How to Visit Gallarus Oratory For Free

Gallarus Oratory

  • If you prefer not to pay a fee, simply continue past the sign for the Visitors Centre
  • Look for the next sign, which says ‘Gallarus Oratory Public right of way’  — this laneway leads directly to the Gallarus oratory
  • There is a small free car park beside the oratory

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St. Michan’s Church and Crypt of Mummies

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St. Michans Church and Crypt of Mummies

St. Michan’s Church is best known for the mummies in its underground crypt.

Located on the eponymous Church Street not far from the Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery, this plain-looking medieval chapel does not stand out. Indeed, most Dubliners are unaware that St. Michan’s is a tourist attraction. The structure is simple and drab, with a large 15th century battlement tower being the one impressive feature.

Aside from the tower, the rest of the current structure dates from the 17th century. Historians believe this was a reconstruction of an earlier Viking church, erected by the Danes in 1095.

St. Michan’s church has a charming and unusual interior, which has been likened to a courthouse.

The Composition of Handel’s Messiah?

Another notable feature is a beautiful 18th century organ. It is claimed that George Frideric Handel composed his most famous work, The Messiah, on this organ.

  • However, records show that the original manuscript composition was completed a few months before Handel’s arrival in Dublin, in December 1741
  • He continued to revise it and recomposed individual movements for several years afterwards.
  • Handel first performed The Messiah  in Dublin on 13 April 1742, on the stage of the Great Music Hall, Fishamble Street.

The Crypts of St. Michans

Do not visit St. Michan’s without seeing the underground vaults – they are well worth the small entrance fee.

This spooky mummy museum was not created intentionally — underground crypts like this exist beneath many churches in Ireland.

In St. Michan’s, however, the coffins have gradually eroded over time, revealing the corpses. The corpses on the other hand have been naturally mummified. Scientists  speculate that the limestone in the basement, or the presence of methane gas from the swampy soil below, may have been the agent that caused the erosion and / or mummification.

Either way, the result is a mummy chamber that has been created both naturally and ethically – no church would have exposed the bodies in its coffins deliberately.

Meeting the Mummies

  • The corpses date from between 400 and 800 years ago.
  • The oldest, nicknamed “The Crusader” is a Norman man believed to have lived during the 13th century.
  • At six feet six inches, he was remarkably tall for that era, and would have stood more than a foot higher than most of his peers.
  • His arm pokes out of the casket and it has become a tradition to “shake hands with the Crusader”. Most people just touch his hand lightly, lest they snap a finger off!
  • The vaults are believed to have been visited in the late 19th century by Dublin-born writer Bram Stoker. It perhaps served as inspiration for his most famous novel, Dracula.

Visitor Tips

  • St. Michan’s church and its crypts are open to visitors on Saturdays throughout the year and on weekdays during the summer.
  • On Sundays and on other certain other religious holidays, however, the church is closed to visitors except regular churchgoers.
  • Access to the crypts is via a narrow stone staircase, so use appropriate footwear and take care descending.

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Christ Church Cathedral

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Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin serves as the central house of worship for the Church of Ireland (Anglican) diocese of Dublin and Glendalough.

In fact, it was the main state church until 1871. For over a thousand years, the building has remained a bastion of Protestantism in the mainly Roman Catholic southern part of Ireland.

The medieval core of the church stands inside a Victorian shell, but Sitric “Silkbeard”, King of Dublin and the first bishop, Dunan, established the original building.

The seat of Irish bishops since the times of the Vikings, the cathedral was rebuilt circa 1186 by Archbishop John Cumin, and again in 1562 following a huge building collapse.
Christ Church Cathedral underwent further renovation during the 1870s by George Street. Today’s visitors enjoy many interesting features, including:

  • The early Gothic nave, built circa 1226. Its 68 -foot high ceiling is arranged in a series of gothic arches. The original roof was so heavy that it caused the north wall (an original part of the structure) to lean outward as much as 18 inches in certain areas.
  • The recently restored crypt survives from the 12 century, and contains a collection of valuable decorated plates presented as a gift by William III in celebration of victory at the Battle of Boyne in 1690, as well as an interesting collection of remains of the departed.
  • The medieval lectern – a handcrafted item made of brass during the Middle Ages, it decorates the north side of the nave, near the pulpit.
  • The Lord Mayor’s Pew – kept in the north aisle except when used by dignitaries, when it is moved to the front of the nave. It is carved with the city arms and has an official mace kept in its stand.
  • Strongbow Monument – the figure, complete with chain armor, represents the image of a warrior – but probably does not depict the man himself. Strongbow’s actual remains, however, were interred somewhere at the site of Christ Church Cathedral, so the monument may be a part of his original tomb.
  • Chapel of St. Laud – this chapel honors the patron saint of Dublin, who died in 1180. It contains original tiles, crafted in medieval times, as well as a wall casket that holds St. Laurence O’ Toole’s heart. He was the patron saint of Dublin, and died in 1180.
  • The Romanesque doorway that enters on the south transept is known for its intricate Irish stonework from the 12th century
  • The building next door to the cathedral houses Dvblinia, where an exhibition tells the story of Dublin’s history via multimedia presentations about the medieval city, and Strongbow’s part in its development. It displays a model depicting Dublin’s appearance circa 1500. From the top of St. Michael’s tower, glorious views of the city can be had.

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John’s Lane Church

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John’s Lane Church

John’s Lane Church. Image by Eric Atkins

Located in the Liberties district on Thomas St., this distinctive red sandstone and granite building is commonly known as John’s Lane Church.

In fact, its correct name is the Church of St. John the Baptist and St. Augustine — a bit of a mouthful! Little wonder that locals preferred to name it after its location at the corner of John’s Lane, a steep and narrow side-street.

It is served by the Augustinian Order of monks and is a fully functioning Catholic church with all associated services.

Features

This is a gorgeous, tranquil, atmospheric church, filled with colour and artwork, yet overlooked by tourists trekking from the city centre to the Guinness Storehouse

The exterior is Flemish in style, while its interior has a more French neo-Gothic character.

The church steeple, measuring around 60 metres  / 200 ft, with its unusually rectangular tower, is the highest in Dublin. Flemish in style, the spire was not originally designed for church bells, but a spiral staircase was added for access, and bells rang for the first time on St. Patrick’s Day, 1873.

Striking Gothic wooden confessionals line both sides of the interior, while paintings depicting the stations of the cross, in wooden frames, adorn the walls.

A great time to visit the church is in the morning, when early light floods through the variety of stained glass windows, brilliantly illuminating the whole church. Some of the windows are designed by artist Harry Clarke — who also created the windows in the Grafton Street’s Bewleys Cafe.

Video

Great video of the striking interior of John's Lane Church

History

Ireland’s First Hospital

John’s Lane Church stands on the site of Ireland’s first hospital, built in 1182. It was constructed by Aelred, a Norman who had returned to Dublin after returning from the Crusades to the Holy Land. At the time, pilgrims often wore or carried palm leaves, and were called “palmers”, which is how Aelred aquired the name Aelred the Palmer. The name later gave rise to the area known as Palmerstown in Dublin.

Thankful that no harm had befallen him during the Crusades, Aelred decided to dedicate the rest of his life to God.  He founded a hospital with the help of Augustinian monks, naming it the Hospital of St. John the Baptist. Over the years, both the hospital and the monastery that were attached to it became both expanded.

In 1316 Edward Bruce, younger brother of the King of Scotland Robert Bruce, and pursuing his own claim to the Irish throne, marched toward Dublin with the intention of vanquishing it. Bruce’s soldiers deliberately set fire to Thomas Street. Flames spread to the hospital and, along with surrounding dwellings, burned it to the ground.

This was not the end of the monastic community and its hospital, however. By the time the British crown dissolved all monastic settlements in Ireland in 1539, and took ownership of their assets, the “Palmer’s Hospital” as it was then known is recorded as being quite a substantial property, with a large house, church, great bawn, mill, kiln and much land.

Building the Church – First Phase

In 1860, Edward Welby Pugin, architect of over 100 Catholic churches in England, Scotland and Ireland, made plans for a new church on the site. The first phase of construction began on Easter 1862, and the building took 33 years to complete.

Money to fund the construction came mainly from the Irish diaspora in England, the United States, Australia, and Canada, through the aggressive fund raising efforts of clergy and local families.

Construction began at an economically difficult time in Irish history, when the Great Irish Famine of 1845 – 1852 was fresh in the memories of the congregation.

Second Phase

The second phase of the building began in 1892 under the design supervision of William Hogue, who is known for the tall spire.

The roof was completed by 1895 and the interior by 1911.

John's Lane Church

 

 

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St. Theresa’s Church

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St. Theresa’s Church

Exterior of St. Teresa’s Church. Image by Christopher Amos.

This charming 18th century church is hidden away on a side alley off Grafton Street, Dublin’s busiest thoroughfare.

Highlights

  • Crisp architecture
  • Charming interior
  • Serene ambience
  • An oasis of calm, in a busy shopping and entertainment district
  • Still popular and active within the community
  • Excellent choir with great acoustics
  • Intriguing history

 

Features

This church, begun by the Discalced Carmelites — also known as the Barrefoot Carmelites — has a history of service to the people of Dublin spanning more than two centuries.

While the granite exterior is less impressive than some other Dublin church façades, the church’s cruciform interior is both impressive and pristinely maintained.

The arcades are elaborately moulded and enriched with columns of polished granite. Stained-glass windows, tasteful statues and impressive artwork adorn the walls.

The church offers a mass schedule for visitors and parishioners along with confessions, and an active calendar of social events.

A small shop connected to the building tells the history of the Church and sells items relating to the Dublin Carmelites.

 

St. Theresa’s Church

Hogan’s Dead Christ sculpture in St. Teresa’s. Image: Wikimeda

Hogan’s Dead Christ

The most noteworthy statue in the church is a life-sized, white marble statue of Christ in the tomb. It was created by the Irish sculptor John Hogan in Rome, 1829.

Choir

Many visitors comment on the wonderful choir, boosted by the awesome acoustics of the building.

To hear the choir, you will have to attend the Sunday morning mass service at 11am.

History of St. Theresa’s

The Discalced Carmelites were a reforming separatist branch of the Carmelite Order, co-founded during the 16th century by the Spanish mystics St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.

Teresa entered the Carmelites at Avila but had become disenchanted with monastic life. Solitude was rarely observed and visitors, often of high social and political rank, were frequent. Teresa created a new monastery, which — in keeping with the wider Counter-Reformation effort — sought to return to the Order’s roots. Teresa’s followers lived a quiet life of poverty, and tried to help the poor in their community.

When the Barefoot Carmelites first arrived on the shores of Ireland, its members said mass and administered the sacraments to worshippers at the childhood residence of Father Paul Browne.

Father Browne had brought the order to Dublin circa 1625, and their operations quickly grew from their humble beginnings in his Cook Street house.

With Catholicism suppressed under British rule, civil authorities moved to close all chapels and evict the friars on St. Stephen’s Day 1629. They were forced to move to another location, elsewhere on Cook Street.

The dawn of the reign of King James II, a fellow Catholic, led the friars to believe that they could live and perform their ministry in peace and safety. All that changed at his defeat at the Battle of Boyne by William of Orange, and Dublin’s Barefoot Carmelites were homeless once again.

During the decades that followed, members of the order continued to set up chapels and places of worship only to disassemble and relocate them as circumstances dictated. Finally, in 1757, they moved to an alley off Lower Stephen Street known as Sheriff’s Court. Here they set up a chapel and made many improvement, sure of a reasonable rental renewal. The landlord charged such high rent that they were forced to move again.

A group of wealthy businessmen banded together to help the friars and in 1786, led by the Protestant builder William Semple, they leased the northeast section of Clarendon Street and levelled the buildings.

The new Clarendon Street Chapel as it was then known opened its doors for worship on Sunday, 1 May 1797.

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St. Audoen’s Church (Protestant)

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St. Audoens Church (Protestant)

St. Audoen’s Church. Image by colddayforpontooning

Near Dublin’s former centre, in the Cornmarket area, admirers of medieval architecture should not miss out on St. Audoen’s Church. Situated on one of Dublin’s oldest streets, High Street — a main thoroughfare for the city’s nobility — St Audoen’s was central to the daily life of medieval Dublin.

Highlights

  • Built by Anglo-Normans in 1190 on the site of a 7th century church
  • An 9th century grave slab — known as the Lucky Stone — remains of the earlier church
  • Beautiful church that retains its original medieval features, such as a large Norman gate
  • Ancient carved stones and statues are dotted throughout the building
  • The nave, the choir, south aisle, and two chapels remain of the original church
  • Cobbled pathway from the side of the church lead to a gatehouse, once part of the medieval walls of Dublin city
  • Local legend says the church tower is haunted by the ghost of Darkey Kelly
  • 200 metres from Christchurch Cathedral
  • FREE enjoyable visit/tour takes just 15 minutes to 1 hour
St. Audoens Church (Protestant)

Interior of St. Audoen’s Church. Image by Mikel Santamaria

Two Saint Audoen’s Churches

There are, in fact, two St. Audoen’s Churches on High Street – one Catholic and one Protestant, both still active.

The Catholic St. Audoen’s Church is a 19th century building, today best known for being the church of the Polish community in Dublin.

The Protestant St. Audoen’s Church, is Ireland’s only surviving medieval church still in use, and has been named a National Monument.

St. Audoens Church (Protestant)

Norman gate and tower. Image by Mark Carvajal

History

St. Audoen’s is named after the seventh century saint Ouen, Bishop of Rouen and patron saint of Normandy. The Anglo-Normans named the church after him when they arrived in Dublin around 1172.

The church was erected in 1190 on the site of an older 7th century church dedicated to St. Columcille. A 9th century gravestone,  known as the Lucky Stone and displayed in the entrance, bears witness to the earlier church.

St. Audoen’s grew wealthy during the 14th and 15th centuries, as local nobles made donations to ensure their safe passage to the afterlife. Various tombs and monuments were erected in an around the church, paid for by the wealthy — such as the 1482 stone effigies of Lord Portlester, Treasurer of Ireland and his wife, now housed in the tower.

Chapels Added

Two extensions were added to the building during this time. One, St. Anne’s Chapel, was added for the benefit of the local guilds — associations for professional such as silversmiths, hosiers and candlemakers. St. Anne’s chapel had several altars, so that priests could offer simultaneous masses for the souls of departed tradesmen — a lucrative business.

Another extension, Portlester’s chapel, was added to the eastern end of the church, where Lord Portlester’s tomb was originally located.

Decline of the Church

By 1620,  the building fell into serious disrepair, and the Archbishop blamed the guilds of St. Anne’s for withholding contributions. Local efforts were made to repair the building but in 1671, with numbers of Protestants in the area dwindling as they moved to the suburbs, Michael Boyle, Primate of the Church of Ireland, ordered its closure.

Nevertheless, it remained in use intermittently over the next 100 years.

By 1773 the small remaining congregation decided to remove the roof from Portlester’s chapel, which was now in disuse. In the early 1800s, the roof of St Anne’s Chapel was also removed.

This has since been re-roofed by the state, and now forms the visitor’s centre.

Visitor’s Centre

In St. Anne’s Chapel, the visitor centre is split into two levels, with the ground floor relaying the history of the church. This award-winning exhibition features models of the church at different eras, and examples of medieval items found during excavations.

Upstairs is a smaller exhibition on Dublin’s trade guilds and the important role they played in the city’s medieval life.

Exhibitions

St. Audoen’s is also noted for hosting various concerts and exhibitions throughout the year.

Admission

Admission is FREE and tourists are usually impressed with the historical importance of the church and the solemn atmosphere of a place so very old and filled with reverence.

St. Audoen's Church

 

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St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral

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St. Marys Pro Cathedral

St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral. Image: Canadian Pacific.

St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral is the main Catholic parish church of Dublin City centre, situated on a back-street, one block east of O’Connell Street.

  • Exterior is based (on one side) on a Greek temple design
  • Interior has a beautifully carved altar
  • Contains records of births and marriages from 1784
  • Statues of St. Mary, St. Patrick, and St. Lawrence O’Toole, patron saint of Dublin. St. Mary’s is the Episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin

A Cathedral or not a Cathedral?

St. Mary’s has the unusual status of pro-Cathedral, meaning “temporary” or “acting” Cathedral”. The Cathedral was built in 1825, at a time when Catholics still had few rights in the city, where power was held by the ruling Protestant elite. It was only intended as a temporary precursor for a more ornate cathedral for Dublin’s Catholics which was never built.

Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral had been granted cathedral status in the 12th century by the pope, so according to Vatican officialdom,  Christchurch — despite being a Protestant place of worship since the Reformation — is still Dublin’s Cathedral.

Since no other Cathedral was built, the pope must revoke Christ Church’s designation if St. Mary’s can be elevated to full cathedral status, an event that would be without precedent.

History

Built on the site of a 12th century Cistercian Abbey of St. Mary, St Mary’s Pro Cathedral was dedicated in 1825. Because of strong anti-Catholic sentiment under British rule, most Catholic churches built prior to Catholic emancipation were typically found in hard-to-find locations, down narrow alleys, out of the way of any considerable pedestrian traffic.

The location of St. Mary’s, away from the main thoroughfares, was the best that Anglo-Irish leaders would allow a Catholic church at the time. Nevethelesss, that it was granted at all was a sign that Catholics were gaining power, and Catholic emancipation was indeed achieved three years later in 1828.

Choir

The Pro Cathedral is also famous for its Palestrina Choir

The famous choir can be heard singing online during the 11am Latin Mass each Sundays.

St. Mary's Pro Cathedral

 

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St. Ann’s Church

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St. Anns Church

St. Ann’s Church, Dublin. Image by Canadian Pacific.

St. Ann’s, built in 1720, is a pretty church situated a busy shopping district on Dublin’s Dawson Street, near Trinity College. Located next to the Mansion House — the official residence of Dublin’s Lord Mayor — St. Ann’s offers a charming and tranquil interior, with more stained glass windows per square inch than any other church in the city.

Famous Past Parishioners

A Church of Ireland (Protestant) Church, St. Ann’s has had some famous parishioners, most notably:

Oscar Wilde, Poet and Playwright

In the baptismal records of St. Ann’s, an entry from 1854 reads Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde. Later to become better known simply as “Oscar Wilde”, the poet was baptised at St. Mark’s church, a neighbouring church in the parish of St. Ann’s. St. Mark’s has sinced closed and the baptismal records have been amalgamated and now reside at St. Ann’s.

Bram Stoker, Author of Dracula

In 1878, Bram Stoker was married at St. Ann’s Church, to Florence Balcombe.

Wolfe Tone, Irish Patriot

Regarded as the father of Irish Republicanism, Theobolde Wolfe Tone was a co-founder of freedom fighters The United Irishmen. He led a failed, but symbolically important, rebellion against the British state in 1798.

As a student in Trinity College Dublin, Tone fell in love with a then sixteen year old Martha Witherington, who lived in nearby Grafton Street, where her parents owned a drapery. As her parents strongly disapproved of Tone, the pair decided to elope, and were married in St Ann’s on 21st July 1785.

The Bread Shelf

On Dawson Street, Dublin, the church has established a long and rich tradition of charity work, which began in 1723 when Lord Newton left a bequest to purchase bread for the poor. The original shelf where the bread was placed for anyone to take still stands next to the altar.

Stained Glass Windows

St. Ann’s is said to have more stained glass per square inch than any other church in Dublin. Some of the windows depict people associated with the church, for example:

Felicia Hemans (1795-1835), a poet and writer, best known for the poem “The boy stood on the burning deck”.

Alexander Knox (1757-1831), a famous theologian, who is depicted in the east window.

While originally fitted with clear windows, these were refitted in the 19th century with Victorian stained-glass.

History and Architecture

Built in 1720, the church was built in a Baroque style, based on a design by Issac Wills, who had a much more elaborate church planned for the parish. A Romanesque facade was added in 1868 and stained glass windows replaced the original clear windows in the 19th century.

The interior is Georgian in architectural style and influenced by Christopher Wren, with alterations representative of Irish architecture. The combination of many styles is said to be somewhat confusing to visitors.

Major renovations were made to the church building in 2009.

St. Ann’s Today

St. Ann’s has a busy ministry and offers services and private prayer time from 10-4, Monday -Friday. There are civic events on the church calendar and lunchtime recitals and evening concerts.

The church has 40,000 visitors annually and operates a bookshop and social center.

St. Ann's Church

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Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church of the Holy Cross

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Daniel OConnell Memorial Church of the Holy Cross

This Gothic-Revival structure sits on Main Street in the small town of Cahersiveen in County Kerry.

Why O’Connell Church Is Unique

The O’Connell Memorial Church is the only church in Ireland built in honour of — and named after — a lay person, neither a saint nor a deity. Construction began in 1875, to commemorate the birth of Daniel O’Connell, who was born in Cahersiveen 100 years previously, and remains the town’s most famous son. The church opened for its first mass in 1902.

Who Was Daniel O’Connell?

Known as the Liberator and the Emancipator,  O’Connell is best remembered for working tirelessly and peacefully to bring about Catholic emancipation in Ireland. He fought for the rights of Irish Catholics to be represented in Parliament at London. He also tried to repeal the Act of Union, which combined Great Britain and Ireland.

His strategy of using peaceful mass gatherings to bring about political change would later  inspire other historical leaders, including Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King.

 

Many streets and monuments throughout Ireland still bear his name, the most well-known being O’Connell Street in Dublin.

Architecture

Designed by George C. Ashlin of Dublin, this structure boasts materials of black limestone, which is found locally, and Newry granite. The church has no tower or spire, and there is just a simple Celtic cross adorning its grounds. Pope Leo XIII approved the building and had a marble slab from the catacombs sent to be used as the cornerstone.

O’Connell Memorial Church Today

Mass is celebrated on a daily basis and the parish encourages unity among its parishioners, offering a variety of support groups, which are also popular here.

Official Website

O’Connell Memorial Church – Cahersiveen Parish Website

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