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