St Aidan's Cathedral
About
St Aidan's is the cathedral of the Diocese of Ferns and the spire you see from everywhere in town, at the top of the hill on Cathedral Street. It is the work of Augustus Welby Pugin: the parish's own history has him carrying out repairs to the old 1809 church in 1839, Bishop Keating laying the first stone of the new building in 1843, the first Mass in the choir in 1846 and the old church, around which the new one had been built, coming down in 1849. The high altar was supplied by Pearse and Sharpe, the firm of James Pearse, father of Patrick Pearse of 1916. In 1970 the stencilled decoration was painted over in white, and in 1994 the interior was restored to Pugin's colours. It is a working parish church with Mass every morning, so visit quietly outside service times.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓Pugin's Gothic Revival design
- ✓The 1994 restoration of the original painted decoration
- ✓The high altar by Pearse and Sharpe
- ✓Stained glass in the great windows
Tips
- →Mass is at 10am Monday to Saturday, 6pm on Saturday evening and 10am and noon on Sunday; avoid wandering round during services
- →The parish office is on 053 923 5777
