Clonfert Cathedral

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Clonfert Cathedral is the historical seat of the Diocese of Clonfert, located in the village of Clonfert, County Galway. Since the Reformation, it has been held by the Church of Ireland, while the Catholic diocese today has a modern cathedral at Loughrea.

[edit] History

The original monastery was founded here by Saint Brendan in 563 and it is here that the great navigating saint is buried. The monastery at Clonfert became one of Ireland's foremost monastic schools, and the launching point of great missionary endeavour throughout Europe. At one time it had as many as 3000 brothers and endured until the 16th century. During the reign of Elizabeth I it was proposed to found a university there, but the proposal was rejected and the university later established in Dublin.

The earliest part of the church dates back to around 1180. Its doorway is the crowning achievement of Hiberno-Romanesque style. It is in six orders, and has an amazing variety of motifs, animal heads, foliage, human heads etc. Above the doorway is a pointed hood enclosing triangles alternating with bizarre human heads, and below this is an arcade enclosing more human heads. The early 13th century east windows in the chancel can be numbered among the best late Romanesque windows. The chancel arch was inserted in the 15th century, and is decorated with angels, a rosette and a mermaid carrying a mirror. The supporting arches of the tower at the west end of the church are also decorated with 15th century heads, and the innermost order of the Romanesque doorway was also inserted at this time. The sacristy is also 15th century. The church had a Romanesque south transept, which is now in ruins, and a Gothic north transept, which has been removed. In the Roman Catholic church one mile to the south is a 14th century wooden statue of the Madonna and Child, and on the roadside near this church is a 16th century tower-house.

[edit] See also

• List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Galway)

[edit] External links

Clonfert Cathedral:[1],[2],[3],[4],[5]

Coordinates: 53.2405° N 8.05877° W

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