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 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 Image Dedication Established Notes/provenance Location & websiteArmaghSt. Patrick 1870Archdiocese of ArmaghBelfast St. Peter 1866Diocese of Down and Connor Architects Jeremiah McAuley, a native Belfast priest and John O'NeillCavanSt. Patrick and St. Feidlim 1942Diocese of KilmoreDerrySt. Eugene 1873Diocese of DerryLetterkennySt. Eunan and St. Columba 1901Diocese of RaphoeLongford St. Mel 1840 Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Destroyed by fire in December 2009, then restored and reopened on 24 December 2014.Monaghan St. Macartan 1892Diocese of ClogherMullingar Christ the King1936Diocese of MeathNewry St. Patrick and St. Colman 1829Diocese of Dromore
Province of Cashel
Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/provenance Location & websiteCobh St. Colman 1915Diocese of CloyneCork St. Mary and St. Anne 1869Diocese of Cork and Ross pro-cathedral Ennis St. Peter and St. Paul 1843Diocese of Killaloe pro-cathedral Killarney The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1855Diocese of Kerry (Ardfert & Aghadoe)Limerick St. John the Baptist 1859Diocese of LimerickSkibbereen St. Patrick 1826Diocese of Cork and RossThurles The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1879Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly built on the site of a Carmelite PrioryWaterford The Most Holy Trinity 1796Diocese of Waterford and Lismore
Province of Dublin
Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/provenance Location & websiteCarlow The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1839Diocese of Kildare and LeighlinDublin The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1825Archdiocese of Dublin pro-cathedral Enniscorthy St. Aidan 1860Diocese of FernsKilkenny The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1857Diocese of Ossory
Province of Tuam
Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/provenance Location & websiteBallaghaderreen The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy 1860Diocese of AchonryBallina St Muredach 1892Diocese of KillalaGalway St. Nicholas and Our Lady Assumed into Heaven 1965Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and KilfenoraLoughrea St. Brendan 1902Diocese of ClonfertSligo The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1874Diocese of ElphinTuam The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1837Archdiocese of Tuam
Church of Ireland
Province of Armagh
Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/provenance Location & website DioceseArmagh The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St. Patrick445 ArmaghBelfast St. Anne1904 Connor and Down and DromoreClogher St. Macartan1744 on site of an ancient monastery ClogherDerry St. Columb1633 Derry and RaphoeDownpatrick The Holy and Undivided Trinity 1818 (also known as Down Cathedral)on site of ancient monastery Down and DromoreDromore Christ the Redeemer1609 on site of an earlier church Down and DromoreEnniskillen St. Macartan 1923 former 17thC parish church ClogherKilmore St. Fethlimidh1860 Bedell Memorial Church Kilmore, Elphin and ArdaghLisburn Christ Church 1662 ConnorRaphoe St. Eunan9thCon site of 6thC monastery Derry and RaphoeSligo St. Mary the Virgin and St. John the Baptist 1874 Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh
Province of Dublin
Establishment Image Dedication Established Notes/provenance Location & website DioceseCashel St. John the Baptist and St. Patrick's Rock 1780 Cashel and OssoryClonfert St. Brendan Tuam, Limerick and KillaloeCloyne St. Colman Cork, Cloyne and RossCork St. Fin Barre 1870 Cork, Cloyne and RossDublin The Holy Trinity commonly called Christ Church Cathedral Dublin and GlendaloughDublin 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 GlendaloughFerns St. Edan Cashel and OssoryKildare St. Brigid Meath and KildareKilfenora St. Fachtanc.1200 partly ruined; nave in use for worship Tuam, Limerick and KillaloeKilkenny St. Canice Cashel and OssoryKillala St. Patrick 17thC Tuam, Limerick and KillaloeKillaloe St. Flannan 12thCfounded (on the site of an earlier monastery) in 1185 by Donal Mor O'Brien Tuam, Limerick and KillaloeLeighlin St. Laserian Cashel and OssoryLimerick The Blessed Virgin Mary 1168 Tuam, Limerick and KillaloeLismore The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Carthage Cashel and OssoryRosscarbery St. Fachtna Cork, Cloyne and RossTrim St. Patrick 1954 19thC Parish Church Meath and KildareTuam St. Mary 19thC Tuam, Limerick and KillaloeWaterford The Holy Trinity 1770 Commonly called Christ Church Cathedral 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 Image Dedication Established Notes/provenance Location & websiteAchonry St. Crumnathy 1822–1997 Closed in 1997. The cathedral was built on the site of a monasteryAghadoe 1158Abandoned by 1740. Now in ruins.AnnaghdownSt. Brendan 10thCArdaghMél of Ardagh 10thCAlthough reputed to date from the time of St Mél, the structure visible today is a 9th- or 10th-century building.Ardfert St. Brendan 13thC destroyed by fire 1641 (NM)Ardmore 13thCCashel Clonard St. John destroyed by fire 1206Connor + St. Saviour destroyed in the Irish Rebellion of 1641; CI Parish Church on siteDuleek Co. MeathElphin St. Mary the Virgin Church of Ireland parish church, wrecked by storm damage in the 1950s, now ruined; diocese amalgamated with SligoEmly St. Alibeus demolished 1877Fermoy St. Patrick co-cathedral, now parochial churchGlendalough 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
See also List of abbeys and priories List of basilicas in Ireland List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom List of English cathedrals List of monasteries dissolved by Henry VIII of England List of monastic houses in England List of monastic houses in Ireland List of monastic houses in Scotland List of monastic houses in Wales List of monastic houses on the Isle of Man Dissolution of the monasteries
References
External links List of cathedrals in Ireland and Great Britain by GCatholic.org Catholic cathedrals and churches of Ireland