St. Fin Barre's Cathedral

Cathedral in Cork

Saint Fin Barres Cathedral
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Debora Guidi

Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral is a Church of Ireland cathedral with origins dating back to the 7th century AD. The first building on the site was a monastery founded by Finbarr of Cork, which was destroyed during the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. Two subsequent churches were built on the site, each demolished and replaced by larger structures.

The current cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1879, designed by architect William Burges in the Gothic Revival style. Burges also designed the sculptures, stained glass, mosaics, and most of the interior furniture. Thomas Nicholls designed most of the external sculptures.

Burges, concerned that the cathedral might not be completed within his lifetime, created a “Book of Furniture” and a “Book of Designs” to ensure the cathedral could be finished according to his exact specifications. These books have been used during reconstruction efforts to maintain the original vision, including re-carving eroded sculptures.

The interior of Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral is as impressive as its exterior. It features mosaic pavements, a high marble nave, and large columns. The cylindrical pulpit is perched on four sculpted legs, and the brass lectern is adorned with the heads of Moses and King David.

The cathedral boasts 74 stained glass windows designed by Burges and crafted by H.W. Lonsdale and William Gualbert Saunders, depicting Biblical themes, except for the nave windows, which feature signs of the zodiac. The pipe organ, built in 1870 by William Hill & Sons, has more than 4,500 pipes.

Tip: Climb the steep, dark staircase to be rewarded with a stunning view of Cork.

The St. Fin Barre's Cathedral appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Cork!

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Visiting St. Fin Barre's Cathedral

Hours:

Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM and from 2 PM to 5:30 PM.


Address: Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, Bishop Street, The Lough, Cork, Ireland
Duration: 20 minutes

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