St Colman's Cathedral & Carillon

About

St Colman's Cathedral stands over the whole town, its spire the tallest in Ireland, a French Gothic limestone cathedral that took from 1868 to 1915 to build. It holds the only carillon in Ireland and the largest in Ireland or Britain, 49 cast-bronze bells weighing over 25 tons, played from a keyboard in the tower. The cathedral is free to enter, and from May to September a carillon recital rings out across the harbour on Sunday afternoons. The climb up to it is steep, and the view back down over the tiered houses and the harbour is the classic Cobh picture.

Highlights

• ✓The tallest church spire in Ireland
• ✓The only carillon in Ireland, 49 bells over 25 tons
• ✓Free to enter; Sunday recitals May to September
• ✓The classic view back down over the tiered painted houses

Tips

• →Free to enter; the carillon recitals are Sundays at 16:30, May-September
• →The climb up from the waterfront is steep
• →The view from the cathedral terrace over the harbour is the best in town
• →Check carilloncobh.com for the recital programme

Best Season