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.
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. 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. 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, for instance whilst a permanent cathedral is acquired, or.
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 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 & Website |
| Armagh | St. Patrick | 1870 | Archdiocese of Armagh | ||
| Belfast | St. Peter | 1866 | Diocese of Down and Connor Architects Jeremiah McAuley, a native Belfast priest and John O'Neill | ||
| Cavan | St. Patrick and St. Feidlim | 1942 | Diocese of Kilmore | ||
| Derry | St. Eugene | 1873 | Diocese of Derry | ||
| Letterkenny | St. Eunan and St. Columba | 1901 | Diocese of Raphoe | ||
| Longford | 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 | 1892 | Diocese of Clogher | ||
| Mullingar | Christ the King | 1936 | Diocese of Meath | ||
| Newry | St. Patrick and St. Colman | 1829 | Diocese of Dromore |
Province of Cashel
| Establishment | Image | Dedication | Established | Notes/Provenance | Location & Website |
| Cobh | St. Colman | 1915 | Diocese of Cloyne | ||
| Cork | St. Mary and St. Anne | 1869 | Diocese of Cork and Ross pro-cathedral | ||
| Ennis | St. Peter and St. Paul | 1843 | Diocese of Killaloe pro-cathedral | ||
| Killarney | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 1855 | Diocese of Kerry | ||
| Limerick | St. John the Baptist | 1859 | Diocese of Limerick | ||
| Skibbereen | St. Patrick | 1826 | Diocese of Cork and Ross | ||
| Thurles | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 1879 | Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly built on the site of a Carmelite Priory | ||
| Waterford | The Most Holy Trinity | 1796 | Diocese of Waterford and Lismore |
Province of Dublin
| Establishment | Image | Dedication | Established | Notes/Provenance | Location & Website |
| Carlow | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 1839 | Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin | ||
| Dublin | The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 1825 | Archdiocese of Dublin pro-cathedral | ||
| Enniscorthy | St. Aidan | 1860 | Diocese of Ferns | ||
| Kilkenny | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 1857 | Diocese of Ossory |
Province of Tuam
| Establishment | Image | Dedication | Established | Notes/Provenance | Location & Website |
| Ballaghaderreen | The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy | 1860 | Diocese of Achonry | ||
| Ballina | St Muredach | 1892 | Diocese of Killala | ||
| Galway | St. Nicholas and Our Lady Assumed into Heaven | 1965 | Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora | ||
| Loughrea | St. Brendan | 1902 | Diocese of Clonfert | ||
| Sligo | The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 1874 | Diocese of Elphin | ||
| Tuam | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 1837 | Archdiocese of Tuam |
Church of Ireland
Province of Armagh
| Establishment | Image | Dedication | Established | Notes/Provenance | Location & Website | Diocese |
| Armagh | The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St. Patrick | 445 | Armagh | |||
| Belfast | St. Anne | 1904 | Connor and Down and Dromore | |||
| Clogher | St. Macartan | 1744 | on site of an ancient monastery | Clogher | ||
| Derry | St. Columb | 1633 | Derry and Raphoe | |||
| Downpatrick | The Holy and Undivided Trinity | 1818 | on site of ancient monastery | Down and Dromore | ||
| Dromore | Christ the Redeemer | 1609 | on site of an earlier church | Down and Dromore | ||
| Enniskillen | St. Macartan | 1923 | former 17thC parish church | Clogher | ||
| Killala | St. Patrick | 17thC | Tuam, Killala and Achonry | |||
| Kilmore | St. Fethlimidh | 1860 | Bedell Memorial Church | Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh | ||
| Lisburn | Christ Church | 1662 | 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 | ||||
| Kilfenora | St. Fachtan | c.1200 | partly ruined; nave in use for worship | Limerick and Killaloe | ||
| Kilkenny | St. Canice | Cashel and Ossory | ||||
| Killaloe | St. Flannan | 12thC | founded 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 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 & Website |
| Achonry | St. Crumnathy | 1822–1997 | Closed in 1997. The cathedral was built on the site of a monastery | ||
| Annaghdown | St. Brendan | 10thC | |||
| 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. | ||
| Ardfert | St. Brendan | 13thC | destroyed by fire 1641 | ||
| Ardmore | 13thC | ||||
| Cashel | |||||
| Clonard | St. John | destroyed by fire 1206 | |||
| Connor + | St. Saviour | destroyed in the Irish Rebellion of 1641; CI Parish Church on site | |||
| 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 | co-cathedral, now parochial church | |||
| Glendalough | St. Peter and St. Paul | 7th-13thC | |||
| Kilmacduagh | St. Colman | 15thC | |||
| Newtown-Trim | St. Peter and St. Paul | 15thC | |||
| Scattery Island | Co. Clare |