The Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas (Irish language: Ard-Eaglais Mhaighdean na Deastógála agus Naomh Nioclás), commonly known as Galway Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Galway, Ireland and is one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city.
Construction began in 1958 on the site of the old city jail, and in 1965 was finally dedicated by Cardinal Richard Cushing to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven (Mary, mother of Jesus) and St Nicholas.
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The architecture of the Cathedral draws on many influences. The dome and pillars reflect a Renaissance style. Other features, including the rose windows and mosaics, echo the broad tradition of Christian art. The Cathedral dome, at a height of 44.2 metres (145 ft), is a prominent landmark on the city skyline.
Mass is celebrated every day in the cathedral. There is a Saturday evening vigil mass for Sunday at 6:00pm, Sunday masses at 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:15am, 12:30pm & 6:00pm. On weekdays Mass is celebrated Mondays to Fridays at 9:00am, 11:00am & 6:00pm with a Saturday morning mass at 11:00am. On Holy days masses are said at the same times as on Sundays.
The Cathedral has been home to an adult choir since the building was dedicated, the role of which is to provide the music at all major ceremonies and services as well as at the regular Sunday 11.15am mass. The choir's repertoire covers music from the sixteenth to the 21st centuries, as well as Gregorian chant and Irish traditional music.
The Cathedral pipe organ was originally built by the Liverpool firm of Rushworthe & Dreaper in 1966, it was renovated and greatly expanded by the Irish organ-builder Trevor Crowe between 2006 and 2007. It has three manuals and 59 speaking stops, and is used regularly during services as well as in the annual series of summer concerts[1].
The Cathedral also has a smaller portable instrument, with one manual and four stops. It is used in smaller-scale liturgy in the Cathedral's side chapels, as well as in a continuo role in concerts.
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