List of cathedrals in Ireland

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

Contents

Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abbreviations and Key

Listing of establishments

Roman Catholic Church

Province of Armagh

Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/Provenance Location & Website
Armagh St. Patrick 1870
Belfast St. Peter 1866 Architects Jeremiah McAuley, a native Belfast priest and John O’Neill
Cavan St. Patrick and St. Feidlim 1942
Derry St. Eugene 1873
Dundalk St. Patrick
Letterkenny St. Eunan and St. Columba 1901
Longford St. Mel mid 19thC; destroyed by fire December 2009
Monaghan St. Macartan 1892
Mullingar Christ the King 1936
Newry St. Patrick and St. Colman 1829

Province of Cashel

Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/Provenance Location & Website
Cobh St. Colman 1915
Cork St. Mary and St. Anne 1869 pro-cathedral
Ennis St. Peter and St. Paul 1843 pro-cathedral
Killarney The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1855
Limerick St. John the Baptist 1859
Skibbereen St. Patrick 1826
Thurles The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1879 built on site of Carmelite Priory
Waterford The Most Holy Trinity 1796

Province of Dublin

Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/Provenance Location & Website
Carlow The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1839
Dublin The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1825 pro-cathedral
Enniscorthy St. Aidan 1860
Kilkenny The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1857

Province of Tuam

Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/Provenance Location & Website
Ballaghaderreen The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy 1860
Ballina St Muredach 1892
Galway St. Nicholas and Our Lady Assumed into Heaven 1965
Loughrea St. Brendan 19thC
Sligo The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1874
Tuam The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1837

Church of Ireland

Province of Armagh

Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/Provenance Location & Website Diocese
Armagh The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St. Patrick Armagh
Belfast St. Anne Connor and Down and Dromore
Clogher St. Macartan on site of an ancient monastery Clogher
Derry St. Columb Derry and Raphoe
Downpatrick The Holy and Undivided Trinity (also known as Down Cathedral)
on site of ancient monastery		 Down and Dromore
Dromore Christ the Redeemer 1661 on site of an earlier church Down and Dromore
Enniskillen St. Macartan 1924 former 17thC parish church Clogher
Killala St. Patrick 17thC Tuam, Killala and Achonry
Kilmore St. Fethlimidh Bedell Memorial Church Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh
Lisburn Christ Church Connor
Raphoe St. Eunan 9thC on site of 6thC monastery Derry and Raphoe
Sligo St. Mary the Virgin and St. John the Baptist 1874 Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh
Tuam St. Mary 19thC Tuam, Killala and Achonry

Province of Dublin

Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/Provenance Location & Website Diocese
Cashel St. John the Baptist and St. Patrick's Rock 1780 Cashel and Ossory
Clonfert St. Brendan Limerick and Killaloe
Cloyne St. Colman Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Cork St. Fin Barre 1870 Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Dublin The Holy Trinity commonly called Christ Church Cathedral Dublin and Glendalough
Dublin St. Patrick The National Cathedral is not a cathedral of the Diocese of Dublin. It has a common relationship with all the dioceses of the Church of Ireland Dublin and Glendalough
Ferns St. Edan Cashel and Ossory
Kildare St. Brigid Meath and Kildare
Kilkennny St. Canice Cashel and Ossory
Killaloe St. Flannan 12thC founded (on the site of an earlier monastery) in 1185 by Donal Mor O'Brien Limerick and Killaloe
Leighlin St. Laserian Cashel and Ossory
Limerick The Blessed Virgin Mary 1168 Limerick and Killaloe
Lismore The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Carthage Cashel and Ossory
Rosscarbery St. Fachtna Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Trim St. Patrick 1954 19thC Parish Church Meath and Kildare
Waterford The Holy and Undivided Trinity 1770 Commonly called Christ Church Cathedral Cashel and Ossory

Former cathedrals

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

Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/Provenance Location & Website
Achonry St. Crumnathy 1822-1997 on site of monastery
Annaghdown St. Brendan 10thC
Ardagh St. Mel 10thC
Ardfert St. Brendan 13thC destroyed by fire 1641 (NM)
Ardmore 13thC
Cashel
Clonard St. John destroyd by fire 1206
Connor + St. Saviour now CI Parish Church
Duleek Co. Meath
Emly St. Alibeus demolished 1877
Elphin St. Mary the Virgin Church of Ireland parish church, wrecked by storm damage in the 1950s, now ruined; diocese amalgamated with Sligo
Fermoy St. Patrick pro-cathedral, now parochial church
Glendalough St. Peter and St. Paul 7th-13thC (NM)
Kilmacduagh St. Colman 15thC (NM)
Newtown-Trim St. Peter and St. Paul 15thC (NM)
Scattery Island Co. Clare

Russian Orthodox Church

Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/Provenance Location & Website
Dublin The Holy Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul located on Harold’s Cross Road

Church of Ireland (Traditional Rite)

Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/Provenance Location & Website
Newtownards St. John 1991 built as a Quaker Meeting House in the mid-18thC

See also

External links