145a. Kilmore Cathedral (St Fethlimidh's, Church of Ireland), Co. Cavan, Ireland

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Church of Ireland, Diocese of Kilmore, Saint Fethlimidh's Cathedral

St Fethlimidh's Cathedral is situated in the parish of Kilmore, southwest of the county town of Cavan. The name Kilmore - Cill Mhor means 'the great church' and sufficiently important to be associated with the Annals of the Four Masters and traceable to an early medieval foundation, but nothing of this church survives.

Kilmore Cathedral stands on an higher wooded site next to an imposing motte and bailie, which was erected by Walter de Lacy in 1211 to extend his control over the Hiberno-Norman Lough Oughter region.

Kilmore Cathedral features a late 12th century Romanesque doorway (c1170), rather incongruously set into a chancel north wall, and used as a vestry door, but its origins are unclear, as it had previously been set into the nave wall of the earlier cathedral since the circa 18th century, now the parish hall. This Hiberno-style of Romanesque doorway may be from the now demolished Drumlane St. Mary Augustinian priory or from the nearby Trinity Island priory church (c.1250).

Kilmore Cathedral also possesses an original first edition copy of the first translation of the Old Testament into Classical Irish by William Bedell, Bishop of Kilmore from 1629 to 1642.

According to local tradition, St. Feidhlimidh founded a small church on the site in the 6th century.

In 1455 the old Catholic Parish Church of St. Feidhlimidh became the Kilmore Cathedral for the Kilmore Diocese, continuing after the Reformation as Kilmore Church of Ireland cathedral, even after the Kilmore See was amalgamated in 1841 with those of Elphin and Ardagh. However, by 1858 the building was too small and dilapidated and replaced by the present Kilmore Cathedral, designed by William Slater and built by 1860 alongside the old one, which is now used as a parochial hall just up the hill from the cathedral.

The west end of Kilmore Cathedral.

Entrance to Kilmore Cathedral.

The interior of Kilmore Cathedral.

The stained glass of the east window of Kilmore Cathedral.

More examples of the stained glass panels of Kilmore Cathedral.

The highly decorated Romanesque arch doorway of Kilmore Cathedral.

Some of the details of the Romanesque doorway carvings.

The older medieval church now used as the parish hall.

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