cathedrals historical ireland

The 49-bell Carillon, unique in this country, is played from a console within the belfry. A closed-circuit system shows the carillonneur playing the instrument. To mark this 81st year, an enhanced programme is planned, including guest recitals by leading carillonneurs, grant aided by the Arts Council, the Cork County and Cobh Town Councils.Recitals take place on Sundays from the 4th of May 2008, to 28th of September 2008.

The Carillion is played from a keyboard and pedalboard cons...

The cathedral of St Flannan, on the west bank of the river, close to the bridge, dates from the 13th century. It is a simple building without aisles but with north and south transepts and a low bell tower where transepts, nave and chancel join to form the usual cross. The church is of sandstone in a variety of shades. Immediately inside the entrance, on the right, a rich Romanesque doorway (taken from an earlier and, it is said, finer church on the same site) frames a window on the southern s...

The town was founded by the Norse early in the 10th century, but by the end of the century of Irish under Brian Boru captured it. The O'Briens had already made it their own capital by 1100. In 1175 Raymond Le Gros took the town for a time, though he had to relinquish it shortly afterwards. But by 1200 the Normans were back again, and with few interruptions held it until the Confederate Catholics captured it in 1642. The Cromwellians took it in 1651.

In October 1691 the Williamites de...

The first evidence of settlement in Limerick is found on Kings Island, and dates back to the Vikings of the 9th century. It was the only river crossing then, and served as a base for raiding local monasteries and Celtic settlements. The English took over the town of Limerick in the late 12th Century, and in 1197 granted a charter declaring Limerick a city. King John, who visited in 1210, ordered that a castle and a bridge (Thomond Bridge) be constructed. Residents of the island city turned...

The first evidence of settlement in Limerick is found on Kings Island, and dates back to the Vikings of the 9th century. It was the only river crossing then, and served as a base for raiding local monasteries and Celtic settlements.

The English took over the town of Limerick in the late 12th Century, and in 1197 granted a charter declaring Limerick a city. King John, who visited in 1210, ordered that a castle and a bridge (Thomond Bridge) be constructed. Residents of the island city...

The Anglican cathdral on the main street contains a full length martial portrait of this same general, still brandishing his sabre. The cathedral tower, which survives from a seventeenth century church on the site, contains a bell cast from cannon used in the Battle of the Boyne. Colours of the Inniskilling regiments hang in the light and airy late Georgian interior.

Notable features are the seventeenth century font and a stone tablet to William Pokrich ( died 1628) with half the inscrip...

Built between 1870-75, this large French Gothic Revival church was designed by John O'Neill. The main spire planned by the architect was finished in 1992....

The Cathedral was begun by Ralph of Bristol around 1223, but only the south transept and a part of the tower as well as small portions of the rest of the church date from this period. It was partially restored in the 15th century, and heavily restored int he 19th century when the choir was almost totally rebuilt. In the south transepts are preserved some good medieval tombs (particularly that of Sir Maurice Fitzgerald of Lackagh who died in 1575) and some of the medieval floor-tiles, and in th...

The cathedral dominates the skyline on all approaches to the town and at night, the warm floodlit and graceful spire is a welcoming sight.

When the Cathedral at Raphoe passed to the Church of Irlend after the Reformation, the Catholic Bishop has no permanent seat until the Letterkenny Cathedral was opened and dedicated to Saint Eunan and Columba in 1901.

Designed by William Hague of Dublin and built of white stone from Mountcharles, the graceful lines, flying buttresses and orn...

An early Christian monastery was founded here by St. Colman Mac Lenen who died around 600, but all its buildings were burned in 1137. The cathedral of the present Church of Ireland Diocese was started around 1250, but because of much modernisation, comparatively little of this early church can be seen. The chancel has been heavily modernised; the chancel arch was blocked up in 1705 and removed completely in 1775. The east window was inserted in1856. The Cathedral's most famous Bishop was George...