Cathedral
O pened in 1965, the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and Saint Nicholas is situated on the site of the former county jail (or gaol as it was known) which closed in 1939 and was notorious for its cruel treatment of prisoners. Happily a brighter atmosphere now prevails in this, the largest and possibly the most impressive building in the city. The copper domed roof is visible for miles around and the massive site on which it stands is one of the largest in the city centre. Nearly all of the raw materials used in the building were supplied from the local area and is a fine example of Irish workmanship. Inside the visitor will find the cut-stone and wood carvings and wall paintings, particularly impressive. The style of the building is Hiberno-Romanesque which is unique eleventh century native Irish mode and pre-dates the Norman invasion. More information on Galway Cathedral is available from this link: http://www.galwaycathedral.org/. |