List of cathedrals in Ireland

This article lists the cathedrals, former cathedrals and intended cathedrals in 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 which is the chief, or 'mother' church of a diocese 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 hierarchy possess cathedrals. However the label 'cathedral' remains in common parlance for notable churches which were formerly part of an episcopal denomination, such as is the case with many former Scottish cathedrals which are now within the Presbyterian Church of Scotland (see List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom). In addition former cathedrals which now exist as ruins retain their nominal status.

The following list comprises, 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 require 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

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

Listing of establishments

Roman Catholic Church

Province of Armagh

Establishment	Image	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Armagh	File:Armagh RC cathedral.jpg	St. Patrick	1870		54.3522546°N 6.6603756°W / 54.3522546; -6.6603756
Belfast		St. Peter	1866		54.5990382°N 5.9444082°W / 54.5990382; -5.9444082
Cavan		St. Patrick and St. Feidlim	1942		53.9984614°N 7.3610115°W / 53.9984614; -7.3610115
Derry		St. Eugene	1873		54.9999582°N 7.3284602°W / 54.9999582; -7.3284602
Dundalk		St. Patrick			54.0039351°N 6.3990211°W / 54.0039351; -6.3990211
Letterkenny	File:STEUNANSCATHEDRALLK.jpg	St. Eunan and St. Columba	1901		54.9502909°N 7.7399969°W / 54.9502909; -7.7399969
Longford		St. Mel	mid 19thC		53.7272173°N 7.7962804°W / 53.7272173; -7.7962804
Monaghan		St. Macartan	1892		54.2446477°N 6.958487°W / 54.2446477; -6.958487
Mullingar		Christ the King	1936		53.5269418°N 7.3462915°W / 53.5269418; -7.3462915
Newry		St. Patrick and St. Colman	1829		54.1747441°N 6.3376522°W / 54.1747441; -6.3376522

Province of Cashel

Establishment	Image	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Cobh		St. Colman	1915		51.8514735°N 8.2933044°W / 51.8514735; -8.2933044
Cork		St. Mary and St. Anne	1869	pro-cathedral	51.9047083°N 8.476274°W / 51.9047083; -8.476274
Ennis		St. Peter and St. Paul	1843	pro-cathedral	52.8416355°N 8.9832973°W / 52.8416355; -8.9832973
Killarney		The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1855		52.0595757°N 9.5185161°W / 52.0595757; -9.5185161
Limerick		St. John the Baptist	1859		52.6621467°N 8.6173153°W / 52.6621467; -8.6173153
Skibbereen		St. Patrick	1826		51.5522194°N 9.2636311°W / 51.5522194; -9.2636311
Thurles		The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1879	built on site of Carmelite Priory	52.6799597°N 7.8096485°W / 52.6799597; -7.8096485
Waterford		The Most Holy Trinity	1796		52.2614073°N 7.111094°W / 52.2614073; -7.111094

Province of Dublin

Establishment	Image	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Carlow		The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1839		52.8370471°N 6.9279957°W / 52.8370471; -6.9279957
Dublin		The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1825	pro-cathedral	53.350853°N 6.259149°W / 53.350853; -6.259149
Enniscorthy		St. Aidan	1860		52.5024493°N 6.5712029°W / 52.5024493; -6.5712029
Kilkenny		The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1857		52.6524629°N 7.2569096°W / 52.6524629; -7.2569096

Province of Tuam

Establishment	Image	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Ballaghaderreen		The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy	1860		53.9036081°N 8.5779405°W / 53.9036081; -8.5779405
Ballina		St Muredach	1892		54.1126536°N 9.1505814°W / 54.1126536; -9.1505814
Galway		St. Nicholas and Our Lady Assumed into Heaven	1965		53.2752544°N 9.0574443°W / 53.2752544; -9.0574443
Loughrea		St. Brendan	19thC		53.1970032°N 8.5670292°W / 53.1970032; -8.5670292
Sligo		The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1874		54.269892°N 8.4782159°W / 54.269892; -8.4782159
Tuam		The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	1837		53.5153073°N 8.8473845°W / 53.5153073; -8.8473845

Church of Ireland (including pre-Reformation)

Province of Armagh

Establishment	Image	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Achonry		St. Crumnathy	1822-1997	on site of monastery	54.0774319°N 8.6542869°W / 54.0774319; -8.6542869
Armagh		The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St. Patrick			54.3474522°N 6.6562557°W / 54.3474522; -6.6562557
Belfast	File:260814148 33e31362b8.jpg	St. Anne			54.6027733°N 5.9284759°W / 54.6027733; -5.9284759
Clogher		St. Macartan		on site of an ancient monastery
Connor		St. Saviour		now CI Parish Church
Derry		St. Columb			54.9938163°N 7.3230529°W / 54.9938163; -7.3230529
Downpatrick		The Holy and Undivided Trinity		(also known as Down Cathedral) on site of ancient monastery
Dromore		Christ the Redeemer	1661	on site of an earlier church
Enniskillen	File:St Macartins Cathedral.jpg	St. Macartan	1924	former 17thC parish church
Killala		St. Patrick	17thC
Kilmore	File:IMG KilmoreCathederal.jpg	St. Fethlimidh		Bedell Memorial Church
Lisburn		Christ Church
Maghera		The Blessed Virgin Mary
Raphoe		St. Eunan	9thC	on site of 6thC monastery
Sligo		St. Mary the Virgin and St. John the Baptist	1874		54.270152°N 8.4771109°W / 54.270152; -8.4771109
Tuam		St. Mary	19thC		53.5139293°N 8.855238°W / 53.5139293; -8.855238

Province of Dublin

Establishment	Image	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Cashel		St. John the Baptist and St. Patrick's Rock	1780		52.5154896°N 7.8854799°W / 52.5154896; -7.8854799
Clonmacnoise		St. Kieran			53.3251318°N 7.9853439°W / 53.3251318; -7.9853439
Clonfert		St. Brendan			53.239582°N 8.0590189°W / 53.239582; -8.0590189
Cloyne		St. Colman			51.8616518°N 8.1191111°W / 51.8616518; -8.1191111
Cork		St. Fin Barre	1870		51.8943312°N 8.4803349°W / 51.8943312; -8.4803349
Dublin		The Holy Trinity		commonly called Christ Church Cathedral	53.3433652°N 6.2709832°W / 53.3433652; -6.2709832
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	53.3394449°N 6.2714177°W / 53.3394449; -6.2714177
Ferns		St. Edan			52.5897138°N 6.493274°W / 52.5897138; -6.493274
Kildare		St. Brigid			53.1580684°N 6.9114304°W / 53.1580684; -6.9114304
Kilfenora		St. Fachtan	c.1200	partly ruined; nave in use for worship	52.9911402°N 9.2158556°W / 52.9911402; -9.2158556
Kilkennny		St. Canice			52.6541616°N 7.2575051°W / 52.6541616; -7.2575051
Killaloe		St. Flannan	12thC	founded (on the site of an earlier monastery) in 1185 by Donal Mor O'Brien	52.8065233°N 8.4392488°W / 52.8065233; -8.4392488
Leighlin		St. Laserian			52.7362657°N 7.0261002°W / 52.7362657; -7.0261002
Limerick		The Blessed Virgin Mary	1168		52.6681459°N 8.6232591°W / 52.6681459; -8.6232591
Lismore		The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Carthage			52.1396913°N 7.928921°W / 52.1396913; -7.928921
Rosscarbery		St. Fachtna			51.5779496°N 9.0296781°W / 51.5779496; -9.0296781
Trim		St. Patrick	1954	19thC Parish Church	53.5582766°N 6.7906237°W / 53.5582766; -6.7906237
Waterford		The Holy and Undivided Trinity	1770	Commonly called Christ Church Cathedral	52.2599495°N 7.1075535°W / 52.2599495; -7.1075535

Former and intended cathedrals

Establishment	Image	Dedication	Established	Notes/Provenance	Location & Website
Ardagh		St. Mel	10thC
Ardfert		St. Brendan	13thC	destroyed by fire 1641 (NM)
Ardmore			13thC
Cashel					52.52034°N 7.891129°W / 52.52034; -7.891129
Clonard		St. John		destroyd by fire 1206
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	53.844881°N 8.1906509°W / 53.844881; -8.1906509
Fermoy		St. Patrick		pro-cathedral, now parochial church	52.136379°N 8.2803494°W / 52.136379; -8.2803494
Glendalough		St. Peter and St. Paul	7th-13thC	(NM)	53.0040544°N 6.3549256°W / 53.0040544; -6.3549256
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

• List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom
• List of English cathedrals
• List of abbeys and priories
• Abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland
• Abbeys and priories in Scotland
• Abbeys and priories in Wales
• Abbeys and priories in England
• Abbeys and priories in Isle of Man
• Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland
• List of monasteries dissolved by Henry VIII of England
• Dissolution of the Monasteries

External links

• List of Cathedrals in Ireland and Great Britain by Giga-Catholic Information