St Eunan's Cathedral

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For the school of education, see St Eunan's College. For the GAA Club, see St Eunan's GAA.
St. Eunan's Cathedral
St. Eunan's Cathedral

St. Eunan's Cathedral or the Cathedral of St. Eunan and St Columba as it is also known, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the parish of Conwal and Leck in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. It was built between the years of 1890 and 1900 and is the only Catholic cathedral in the county, however, an older Church of Ireland cathedral of the same name is located in the town of Raphoe. The Cathedral was commissioned by late Cardinal O'Donnell, then Bishop of Raphoe, who in 1888 aged 32 became the youngest bishop in the world at that time.[1] The Cathedral, located on Castle Street opposite Conwal Parish Church in the town celebrated its centenary in 2001. The parish priests are Fr. Eamonn Kelly, Fr. Kevin Gillespie and Fr. Willie Bradley.

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[edit] Description

The Cathedral opened in 1901 and is built in Victorian neo-Gothic style on a site overlooking the town. It was designed by William Hague the well known Dublin architect and protégé of Pugin. Saint Eunan's Cathedral has a spire with a height of 240 feet. White sandstone from Mountcharles was used in the construction of the cathedral and the cathedral is furnished in oak, with a marble pulpit by Pearse Brothers of Dublin. The pulpit depicts statues of the Four Masters and the Four Evangelists.

The ceilings are the work of Amici of Rome, while the stained glass windows that illuminate the Sanctuary and the Lady Chapel are by the Mayer firm of Munich. They depict thirteen scenes from our Lords life. Celtic motifs and stained glass have been designed by Harry Clarke and Michael Healy. The Great Arch illustrates the lives of St. Eunan (better known as St Adhamhnáin) and St. Columba. The sanctuary lamp is made of solid silver and weighs over 1500 ounces. Some sculptures were created by William Pearse who took part in the Easter Rising. [2]

The Cathedral was renovated and remodelled in 1985. Care was taken to preserve the style and materials of the original altar in the new altar table and chair. The original altar-piece, an Irish carving of Leonardo’s Last Supper, is still present in the Cathedral and has been incorporated into the new altar.

[edit] Gallery

[edit] Interior

Central aisle within the Cathedral

Altar within the Cathedral

Cathedral pulpit

Stations of the Cross within the Cathedral

Stained glass window within the Cathedral

Cathedral collection envelope

Cathedral newsletter

[edit] Exterior

The Cathedral by night

St. Eunan's Cathedral Grounds

Side view of the Cathedral

Side View of the Cathedral

Flying Buttress

Carving on cathedral wall

Statue in memory of Cardinal O'Donnell

[edit] References

  1. ^ Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland
  2. ^ Sculptures by William Pearse
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