Clonfert Cathedral

About

Clonfert Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Clonfert, County Galway in Ireland. Previously the cathedral of the Diocese of Clonfert and then one of three cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Limerick and Killaloe, it is now one of five cathedrals in the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe. The current building was erected in the 12th century in the Hiberno-Romanesque style The site had an earlier church founded by Saint Brendan in 563, which was associated with a monastery he founded and at which he was buried. The dean of the cathedral is the Very Reverend Roderick Lindsay Smyth who is also Dean of Killaloe, Dean of Kilfenora and both Dean and Provost of Kilmacduagh.

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 a large 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 is an example of a 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 mermaid is worn smooth from human hands. 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. [ citation needed ]

Clonfert Cathedral was included in the 2000 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund. The soft sandstone structure had weathered severely, and prior conservation efforts, which did not fully address all the building's problems, as well as substantial biological growth, had compounded the deterioration. Due to the limited resources of the dwindling congregation, American Express provided financial assistance through the organization.

- 561 - In which the battle of Cúl Dreimne is what is to be recorded, and in which Ainmire, son of Sétna, and Ainnedid son of Fergus, and Domnall were victors. Diarmait, however, was put to flight; and on this day Cluain Ferta Brénainn was founded at the order of an angel. [AU 558, 560, 561, 564; AU 558]

- 570 - Repose of Íte of Cluain, i.e. the fostermother of Jesus Christ and of Brénainn, i.e., of Cluain Ferta. [AI, AU 570, AU 577].

- 572 - Maenu, bishop of Cluain Ferta Brénainn, rested. [CS]

- 621 - Senach Garb, abbot of Cluain Ferta, dies. [AT, AI 604]

- 636 - Repose of Carthach, abbot of Cluain Ferta Brénainn, who is called Ségán. [AI]

- 729 - Fachtna son of Folochtach, abbot of Clonfert, dies. [AT]

- 749 - The burning of Cluain Ferta Brénainn. [AT, AI 752]

- 752 - Repose of Fiachna grandson of Mac Niad, abbot of Cluain Ferta Brénainn. [AT]

- 753 - Death of Cellan, abbot of Cluain Ferta Brénainn. [AT]

- 762 - Suibne abbot of Brenann's Clonfert. [AT]

- 766 - The falling asleep of Crimthann, abbot of Cluain Ferta. [AT, AI]

- 773 - Ceithernach grandson of Erumain, abbot of Cluain Ferta Brénainn, died. [AI 768, AU 773]

- 776 - Tipraite son of Ferchar, abbot of Cluain Ferta Brénainn, died. [AU 776 & 795]

- 783 - Flaithnia's son, abbot of Cluain Ferta, died. [AI]

- 794 - Tipraite, abbot of Cluain Ferta Brénainn, [rested]. [AI]

- 802 - Muiredach son of Óchobor, abbot of Cluain Ferta Brénainn, died. [AI 792, AI 802]

- 807 - A battle between the community of Corcach and the community of Cluain Ferta Brénainn, among whom resulted a slaughter of a countless number of ordinary ecclesiastics and of eminent men of the community of Corcach.