Clonfert Cathedral

Site of a monastery founded by St. Brendan the Navigator

Clonfert Cathedral, in the peaceful village of Clonfert, County Galway, holds a rich history dating back to the 6th century. Founded by St. Brendan, it stands as a testament to ancient ecclesiastical prominence. Renowned for its intricately carved Romanesque doorway and surviving architectural marvels, it beckons visitors to explore its storied past.

The beautiful round arched west doorway at Clonfert Cathedral is a lovely relic of Irish Romanesque decorative architecture built A.D. 563. Monasteries flourished as centres of learning and sent missionaries to many European countries, bringing with them the classical literature of Greece and Rome. Reports in the 9th century suggested that anyone who spoke Greek on the continent was an Irish person or had been taught by an Irish person.

 

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Origins of Clonfert

Clonfert Cathedral stands on the grounds where St. Brendan founded a monastery in the 6th century.

Ecclesiastical History

The ecclesiastical history of Clonfert dates back to the 6th century, with St. Brendan the Navigator founding a monastery there.

Significance of St. Brendan

St. Brendan’s body was buried at Clonfert upon his death around 584.

Architecture

The cathedral is renowned for its finely carved Romanesque doorway dating from 1200.

Monastic Life

At its peak, the monastery housed around 3,000 monks.

Viking Raids

The monastery faced multiple Viking raids and was burned down in 1016, 1164, and 1179.

Surviving Structure

The only remaining evidence of the monastery is the 12th-century St. Brendan’s Cathedral.

Architectural Features

The cathedral’s western doorway is attributed to Peter O’Moore, a Bishop of Clonfert from 1161 to 1171. It features six orders of decorated brown sandstone and a later inner order made from 15th-century blue limestone.

Interior Features

Inside the cathedral, there are notable features such as a 15th-century chancel arch decorated with angels and a seafaring motif, a 13th-century east window, a 15th-century stone-carved font, a gravestone with Celtic lettering, and a 19th-century carved oak pulpit.

Note: A key is required to access the cathedral which is available from the caretaker at the nearby house to the right of the church.

Clonfert Cathedral: What to expect

Clonfert Cathedral Location Map

Located just 9km from the town of Banagher, County Galway, in the small village of Clonfert.

GPS Coordinates: 53.240582757844976, -8.058142594994946

Clonfert Cathedral is popular for...

St. Brendan the Navigator
medieval history
Romanesque architecture
days out
cloudy days
stone carvings
east galway
irish cathedrals
clonfert village
religious sites
viking attractions

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