St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny

52°39′09″N 07°15′25″W / 52.65250°N 7.25694°W / 52.65250; -7.25694LocationCounty KilkennyCountryRepublic of IrelandDenominationRoman CatholicHistoryFoundedFebruary 1842Consecrated4 October 1857Relics heldSt Victoria
Saint Clement
Saints Cosmas and Damian^[1]ArchitectureStyleGothic RevivalGroundbreakingApril 1843Completed1857Construction cost£25,000AdministrationProvinceDublinDioceseDiocese of Ossory

St Mary's is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory. It is situated on James's Street, Kilkenny, Ireland.

Saint Mary's was designed by William Deane Butler (c.1794-1857). He was chosen by Bishop William Kinsella (1793-1845) who instigated the building of St. Mary's in February 1842. Work began in April 1843 and finished in 1857. On Sunday 4 October 1857, St. Mary's had its grand opening, which consisted of a two-and-three-quarter hour ceremony that began at 6.15am. The cost of the building is estimated to have been £25,000.

St. Mary's is made from cut-limestone which was sourced locally. The cathedral has a cruciform plan and its style is described as ‘Early English Gothic’.^[2] The design is believed to have been based on Gloucester Cathedral in Gloucester, England. It is situated on the highest point in Kilkenny City and is a significant local landmark.

Its bell in the steeple was made by John Murphy, a Dublin foundry.^[3]

St. Mary's has a noted sculpture of the Madonna by Giovanni Maria Benzoni (1809-1873).

Gallery

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  Rear nave
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  Nave facing the Sanctuary
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  Apse
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  Vault in the apse
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  Main façade
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  Tower, transept (left) and apse (right)
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  Kilkenny Panorama with St Mary's Cathedral at Background

References

External links

DiocesesBishopsChurchesSee also