St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

St. Mary's Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral of Kilkenny, seat of the Diocese of Ossory, and one of the city's largest Gothic Revival buildings. It stands on James's Street, a short walk from the medieval centre, and shows how confident the Catholic church in Ireland had become by the middle of the 19th century.

The story behind it

The cathedral was built in the 1840s and 1850s, after Catholic Emancipation had made it possible to build large, visible churches. The architect was William Deane Butler, who chose a Gothic Revival style with pointed arches and tall windows, drawing on medieval models. It was dedicated in 1857.

It stands in a city already known for a very different cathedral, the medieval St. Canice's, which belongs to the Church of Ireland. Seeing the two shows how Kilkenny's religious and architectural history runs from the Middle Ages to the Victorian era.

What to look for

• The pale stonework of the exterior, with its pointed arches and buttresses, is a clear example of Victorian Gothic Revival building in Ireland.
• The tall tower and spire rise above the surrounding streets and make a good landmark when you are finding your way around the west side of the city.
• Inside, look up at the high ceiling and the pointed arcades that run along the nave, which give the church its sense of height.
• The stained glass windows throw coloured light across the interior, and they are best appreciated on a bright day.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the exterior and a quiet look inside, longer if you like to study the architecture.
• It is a working church, so be respectful during services, keep voices low and check current opening hours and any visiting restrictions before you go.
• Daylight is best, both for the stained glass inside and for photographing the exterior.
• Kilkenny's medieval centre, its castle and the narrow lanes known as slips are within walking distance, so the cathedral fits easily into a wider walk.

Explore it on a quest

Kilkenny rewards walking, and a self-guided quest is a good way to take in the streets around the cathedral. The app leads you from place to place on foot, tells you about each stop as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. There is no guide and no group to join, so you can start whenever you like. Browse the quests in Kilkenny to find a route that suits you.