List of cathedrals in Ireland facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

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

Overview
Abbreviations and Key
Listing of establishments
See also

Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

+ indicates non-cathedral ecclesiastical use.
NM = National Monument.

Listing of establishments

Catholic Church

Province of Armagh

Establishment	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Armagh	St. Patrick	1870	Archdiocese of Armagh	54°21′08″N 6°39′37″W / 54.3522546°N 6.6603756°W / 54.3522546; -6.6603756 (Armagh Cathedral (RC))
Belfast	St. Peter	1866	Diocese of Down and Connor Architects Jeremiah McAuley, a native Belfast priest and John O'Neill	54°35′57″N 5°56′40″W / 54.5990382°N 5.9444082°W / 54.5990382; -5.9444082 (Belfast Cathedral (RC))
Cavan	St. Patrick and St. Feidlim	1942	Diocese of Kilmore	53°59′54″N 7°21′40″W / 53.9984614°N 7.3610115°W / 53.9984614; -7.3610115 (Cavan Cathedral (RC))
Derry	St. Eugene	1873	Diocese of Derry	55°00′00″N 7°19′42″W / 54.9999582°N 7.3284602°W / 54.9999582; -7.3284602 (Derry Cathedral (RC))
Letterkenny	St. Eunan and St. Columba	1901	Diocese of Raphoe	54°57′01″N 7°44′24″W / 54.9502909°N 7.7399969°W / 54.9502909; -7.7399969 (Letterkenny Cathedral (RC))
Longford	St. Mel	1840	Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Destroyed by fire in December 2009, then restored and reopened on 24 December 2014.	53°43′38″N 7°47′47″W / 53.7272173°N 7.7962804°W / 53.7272173; -7.7962804 (Longford Cathedral (RC))
Monaghan	St. Macartan	1892	Diocese of Clogher	54°14′41″N 6°57′31″W / 54.2446477°N 6.958487°W / 54.2446477; -6.958487 (Monaghan Cathedral (RC))
Mullingar	Christ the King	1936	Diocese of Meath	53°31′37″N 7°20′47″W / 53.5269418°N 7.3462915°W / 53.5269418; -7.3462915 (Mullingar Cathedral (RC))
Newry	St. Patrick and St. Colman	1829	Diocese of Dromore	54°10′29″N 6°20′16″W / 54.1747441°N 6.3376522°W / 54.1747441; -6.3376522 (Newry Cathedral (RC))

Province of Cashel

Establishment	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Cobh	St. Colman	1915	Diocese of Cloyne	51°51′05″N 8°17′36″W / 51.8514735°N 8.2933044°W / 51.8514735; -8.2933044 (Cobh Cathedral (RC))
Cork	St. Mary and St. Anne	1869	Diocese of Cork and Ross pro-cathedral	51°54′17″N 8°28′35″W / 51.9047083°N 8.476274°W / 51.9047083; -8.476274 (Cork Cathedral (RC))
Ennis	St. Peter and St. Paul	1843	Diocese of Killaloe pro-cathedral	52°50′30″N 8°59′00″W / 52.8416355°N 8.9832973°W / 52.8416355; -8.9832973 (Ennis Cathedral (RC))
Killarney	The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1855	Diocese of Kerry (Ardfert & Aghadoe)	52°03′34″N 9°31′07″W / 52.0595757°N 9.5185161°W / 52.0595757; -9.5185161 (Killarney Cathedral (RC))
Limerick	St. John the Baptist	1859	Diocese of Limerick	52°39′44″N 8°37′02″W / 52.6621467°N 8.6173153°W / 52.6621467; -8.6173153 (Limerick Cathedral (RC))
Skibbereen	St. Patrick	1826	Diocese of Cork and Ross	51°33′08″N 9°15′49″W / 51.5522194°N 9.2636311°W / 51.5522194; -9.2636311 (Skibbereen Cathedral (RC))
Thurles	The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1879	Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly built on the site of a Carmelite Priory	52°40′48″N 7°48′35″W / 52.6799597°N 7.8096485°W / 52.6799597; -7.8096485 (Thurles Cathedral (RC))
Waterford	The Most Holy Trinity	1796	Diocese of Waterford and Lismore	52°15′41″N 7°06′40″W / 52.2614073°N 7.111094°W / 52.2614073; -7.111094 (Waterford Cathedral (RC))

Province of Dublin

Establishment	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Carlow	The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1839	Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin	52°50′13″N 6°55′41″W / 52.8370471°N 6.9279957°W / 52.8370471; -6.9279957 (Carlow Cathedral)
Dublin	The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1825	Archdiocese of Dublin pro-cathedral	53°21′03″N 6°15′33″W / 53.350853°N 6.259149°W / 53.350853; -6.259149 (Carlow Cathedral (RC))
Enniscorthy	St. Aidan	1860	Diocese of Ferns	52°30′09″N 6°34′16″W / 52.5024493°N 6.5712029°W / 52.5024493; -6.5712029 (Enniscorthy Cathedral (RC))
Kilkenny	The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1857	Diocese of Ossory	52°39′09″N 7°15′25″W / 52.6524629°N 7.2569096°W / 52.6524629; -7.2569096 (Kilkenny Cathedral (RC))

Province of Tuam

Establishment	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Ballaghaderreen	The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy	1860	Diocese of Achonry	53°54′13″N 8°34′41″W / 53.9036081°N 8.5779405°W / 53.9036081; -8.5779405 (Ballaghaderreen Cathedral (RC))
Ballina	St Muredach	1892	Diocese of Killala	54°06′46″N 9°09′02″W / 54.1126536°N 9.1505814°W / 54.1126536; -9.1505814 (Ballina Cathedral (RC))
Galway	St. Nicholas and Our Lady Assumed into Heaven	1965	Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora	53°16′31″N 9°03′27″W / 53.2752544°N 9.0574443°W / 53.2752544; -9.0574443 (Galway Cathedral (RC))
Loughrea	St. Brendan	1902	Diocese of Clonfert	53°11′49″N 8°34′01″W / 53.1970032°N 8.5670292°W / 53.1970032; -8.5670292 (Loughrea Cathedral (RC))
Sligo	The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1874	Diocese of Elphin	54°16′12″N 8°28′42″W / 54.269892°N 8.4782159°W / 54.269892; -8.4782159 (Sligo Cathedral (RC))
Tuam	The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1837	Archdiocese of Tuam	53°30′55″N 8°50′51″W / 53.5153073°N 8.8473845°W / 53.5153073; -8.8473845 (Tuam Cathedral (RC))

Church of Ireland

Province of Armagh

Establishment	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website	Diocese
Armagh	The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St. Patrick	445		54°20′51″N 6°39′23″W / 54.3474522°N 6.6562557°W / 54.3474522; -6.6562557 (Armagh Cathedral (CI))	Armagh
Belfast	St. Anne	1904		54°36′10″N 5°55′43″W / 54.6027733°N 5.9284759°W / 54.6027733; -5.9284759 (Belfast Cathedral (CI))	Connor and Down and Dromore
Clogher	St. Macartan	1744	on site of an ancient monastery	54°24′39″N 7°10′19″W / 54.4107888°N 7.1719265°W / 54.4107888; -7.1719265 (Clogher Cathedral)	Clogher
Derry	St. Columb	1633		54°59′38″N 7°19′23″W / 54.9938163°N 7.3230529°W / 54.9938163; -7.3230529 (Derry Cathedral (CI))	Derry and Raphoe
Downpatrick	The Holy and Undivided Trinity	1818	(also known as Down Cathedral) on site of ancient monastery	54°19′40″N 5°43′16″W / 54.3278839°N 5.7211573°W / 54.3278839; -5.7211573 (Down Cathedral)	Down and Dromore
Dromore	Christ the Redeemer	1609	on site of an earlier church	54°24′53″N 6°09′06″W / 54.4146743°N 6.151705°W / 54.4146743; -6.151705 (Dromore Cathedral)	Down and Dromore
Enniskillen	St. Macartan	1923	former 17thC parish church	54°20′48″N 7°38′28″W / 54.3465806°N 7.6410078°W / 54.3465806; -7.6410078 (Enniskillen Cathedral)	Clogher
Kilmore	St. Fethlimidh	1860	Bedell Memorial Church	53°59′35″N 07°24′46″W / 53.99306°N 7.41278°W / 53.99306; -7.41278 (Kilmore Cathedral)	Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh
Lisburn	Christ Church	1662		54°30′41″N 6°02′30″W / 54.5112953°N 6.0417997°W / 54.5112953; -6.0417997 (Lisburn Cathedral)	Connor
Raphoe	St. Eunan	9thC	on site of 6thC monastery	54°52′26″N 7°35′53″W / 54.8738165°N 7.5981617°W / 54.8738165; -7.5981617 (Raphoe Cathedral (CI))	Derry and Raphoe
Sligo	St. Mary the Virgin and St. John the Baptist	1874		54°16′13″N 8°28′38″W / 54.270152°N 8.4771109°W / 54.270152; -8.4771109 (Sligo Cathedral (CI))	Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh

Province of Dublin

Establishment	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website	Diocese
Cashel	St. John the Baptist and St. Patrick's Rock	1780		52°30′56″N 7°53′08″W / 52.5154896°N 7.8854799°W / 52.5154896; -7.8854799 (Cashel Cathedral (CI))	Cashel and Ossory
Clonfert	St. Brendan			53°14′22″N 8°03′32″W / 53.239582°N 8.0590189°W / 53.239582; -8.0590189 (Clonfert Cathedral (CI))	Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
Cloyne	St. Colman			51°51′42″N 8°07′09″W / 51.8616518°N 8.1191111°W / 51.8616518; -8.1191111 (Cloyne Cathedral (CI))	Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Cork	St. Fin Barre	1870		51°53′40″N 8°28′49″W / 51.8943312°N 8.4803349°W / 51.8943312; -8.4803349 (Cork Cathedral (CI))	Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Dublin	The Holy Trinity		commonly called Christ Church Cathedral	53°20′36″N 6°16′16″W / 53.3433652°N 6.2709832°W / 53.3433652; -6.2709832	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	53°20′22″N 6°16′17″W / 53.339444°N 6.271417°W / 53.339444; -6.271417 (St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin)	Dublin and Glendalough
Ferns	St. Edan			52°35′23″N 6°29′36″W / 52.5897138°N 6.493274°W / 52.5897138; -6.493274 (Ferns Cathedral (CI))	Cashel and Ossory
Kildare	St. Brigid			53°09′29″N 6°54′41″W / 53.1580684°N 6.9114304°W / 53.1580684; -6.9114304 (Kildare Cathedral (CI))	Meath and Kildare
Kilfenora	St. Fachtan	c.1200	partly ruined; nave in use for worship	52°59′28″N 9°12′57″W / 52.9911402°N 9.2158556°W / 52.9911402; -9.2158556 (Kilfenora Cathedral (CI))	Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
Kilkenny	St. Canice			52°39′15″N 7°15′27″W / 52.654161°N 7.257505°W / 52.654161; -7.257505 (Kilkenny Cathedral (CI))	Cashel and Ossory
Killala	St. Patrick	17thC		54°12′44″N 9°13′15″W / 54.212222°N 9.220833°W / 54.212222; -9.220833 (Killala Cathedral (CI))	Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
Killaloe	St. Flannan	12thC	founded (on the site of an earlier monastery) in 1185 by Donal Mor O'Brien	52°48′23″N 8°26′21″W / 52.8065233°N 8.4392488°W / 52.8065233; -8.4392488 (Killaloe Cathedral (CI))	Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
Leighlin	St. Laserian			52°44′11″N 7°01′34″W / 52.7362657°N 7.0261002°W / 52.7362657; -7.0261002 (Leighlin Cathedral (CI))	Cashel and Ossory
Limerick	The Blessed Virgin Mary	1168		52°40′05″N 8°37′24″W / 52.6681459°N 8.6232591°W / 52.6681459; -8.6232591 (Limerick Cathedral (CI))	Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
Lismore	The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Carthage			52°08′23″N 7°55′44″W / 52.1396913°N 7.928921°W / 52.1396913; -7.928921 (Lismore Cathedral (CI))	Cashel and Ossory
Rosscarbery	St. Fachtna			51°34′41″N 9°01′47″W / 51.5779496°N 9.0296781°W / 51.5779496; -9.0296781 (Rosscarbery Cathedral (CI))	Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Trim	St. Patrick	1954	19thC Parish Church	53°33′30″N 6°47′26″W / 53.5582766°N 6.7906237°W / 53.5582766; -6.7906237 (Trim Cathedral (CI))	Meath and Kildare
Tuam	St. Mary	19thC		53°30′50″N 8°51′19″W / 53.5139293°N 8.855238°W / 53.5139293; -8.855238 (Tuam Cathedral (CI))	Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
Waterford	The Holy Trinity	1770	Commonly called Christ Church Cathedral	52°15′36″N 7°06′27″W / 52.2599495°N 7.1075535°W / 52.2599495; -7.1075535 (Waterford Cathedral (CI))	Cashel and Ossory

Former cathedrals

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

Establishment	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Achonry	St. Crumnathy	1822–1997	Closed in 1997. The cathedral was built on the site of a monastery	54°04′39″N 8°39′15″W / 54.0774319°N 8.6542869°W / 54.0774319; -8.6542869 (Achonry Cathedral (CI))
Annaghdown	St. Brendan	10thC		54°04′39″N 8°39′15″W / 54.077432°N 8.654287°W / 54.077432; -8.654287 (Annaghdown Cathedral)
Ardagh	Mél of Ardagh	10thC	Although reputed to date from the time of St Mél, the structure visible today is a 9th or 10th century building.	53°40′02″N 7°41′33″W / 53.6671207°N 7.6925915°W / 53.6671207; -7.6925915 (Ardagh Cathedral)
Ardfert	St. Brendan	13thC	destroyed by fire 1641 (NM)	52°19′44″N 9°46′55″W / 52.3288091°N 9.7818661°W / 52.3288091; -9.7818661 (Ardfert Cathedral)
Ardmore		13thC		51°56′56″N 7°43′34″W / 51.948828°N 7.7260709°W / 51.948828; -7.7260709 (Ardmore Cathedral)
Cashel				52°31′13″N 7°53′28″W / 52.52034°N 7.891129°W / 52.52034; -7.891129 (Cashel Cathedral)
Clonard	St. John		destroyed by fire 1206
Connor ⁺	St. Saviour		destroyed in the Irish Rebellion of 1641; CI Parish Church on site	54°48′26″N 6°12′45″W / 54.8072928°N 6.2123866°W / 54.8072928; -6.2123866 (Connor Cathedral)
Duleek			Co. Meath
Elphin	St. Mary the Virgin		Church of Ireland parish church, wrecked by storm damage in the 1950s, now ruined; diocese amalgamated with Sligo	53°50′43″N 8°11′26″W / 53.8452283°N 8.1905464°W / 53.8452283; -8.1905464 (Elphin Cathedral)
Emly	St. Alibeus		demolished 1877
Fermoy	St. Patrick		co-cathedral, now parochial church	52°08′11″N 8°16′47″W / 52.136468°N 8.279786°W / 52.136468; -8.279786 (Fermoy Cathedral)
Glendalough	St. Peter and St. Paul	7th-13thC	(NM)	53°00′38″N 6°19′37″W / 53.010556°N 6.326944°W / 53.010556; -6.326944 (Glendalough Cathedral)
Kilmacduagh	St. Colman	15thC	(NM)	53°02′52″N 8°53′17″W / 53.047778°N 8.888056°W / 53.047778; -8.888056 (Kilmacduagh Cathedral)
Newtown-Trim	St. Peter and St. Paul	15thC	(NM)	53°33′21″N 6°46′19″W / 53.555701°N 6.771966°W / 53.555701; -6.771966 (Newtown-Trim Cathedral)
Scattery Island			Co. Clare	52°36′51″N 9°31′00″W / 52.6141819°N 9.5167726°W / 52.6141819; -9.5167726 (Scattery Island Cathedral)