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Cathedral Restoration
You can view the full information and video here
Cathedral Re-Opening Saturday 10 September 2022 for 7.30pm Mass
It is great to have the Cathedral reopened on time.
It was something that could only be achieved through the dedication of all those involved in the project team.
Sisk, the builders of the Cathedral 80 years ago, did a fantastic job. We wish to acknowledge the great work done by everybody, and many in a voluntary capacity, over the last four months. Without the hard work and dedication of so many people the beautiful job you see finished today would not have been possible.
People are asking about donating money towards the restoration. Over the next three months all parishioners will be afforded the opportunity to donate to the project.
Yet again we would like to thank all the parishioners for the encouragement and support they have given to the project.
Well done to everybody.
And we never want to hear about anyone feeling the cold in the Cathedral again!!!
Fr Kevin
On behalf of the Parish Team & the Parish Finance Committee.
History
The patron saint of the diocese of Kilmore is St. Felim who lived in the 6th century. Little is known about him except that he is said to have founded a church at Kilmore near Cavan, which subsequently gave its name to the diocese.
Bishop Andrew McBrady 1445-55 rebuilt the ancient church and received permission from Pope Nicholas V to raise it to the status of a cathedral. The cathedral was confiscated as a result of the Reformation and the diocese had no cathedral for 300 years.
The six splendid stained glass windows in the nave and the one in the south transept come from the studios of Harry Clarke. They were added in 1994. In 1774 a new chapel was built at ‘Skelton’s Ford’, which later became the site of the old cathedral. In 1823 this chapel was rebuilt and slated while Fr. Patrick O’Reilly, a native of Killann parish, was parish priest.
In 1862 Bishop James Browne had the Cavan parish church extended and it became the cathedral of the diocese of Kilmore and it was dedicated to St. Patrick.The present Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim was built between 1938 and 1942 during the episcopacy of Bishop Patrick Lyons. The architect was W.H.Byrne & Son and the contractor was John Sisk & Son. It was dedicated on 27 September 1942. It cost £209,000 to build.
The cathedral is neo-classical in style with a single spire rising to 230 feet. The protico consists of a tympanum supported by four massive columns of Portland stone with Corinthian caps. The tympanum figures of Christ, St. Patrick and St. Felim were executed by the Dublin sculptor Edward Smith.
The 28 columns in the cathedral, the pulpit and all the statues are of Pavinazetto marble and came from the firm of Dinelli Figli of Pietrasanta in Italy. The fine work of George Collie can be seen in the stations of the cross and in the mural of the risen Christ on the wall of the apse.
Directly above the mural are 12 small stained glass windows from the early studios showing the heads of the twelve apostles. The high altar is of green Conemara marble and pink Middleton marble while the altar rails are of white Carrar marble. The apse has two side chapels on the north and two on the south.
The Blessed Sacrament is now reserved in the south chapel closest to the altar.