Religious buildings, Galway

The Galway Cathedral is the Roman Catholic seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora. The official name is the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas. Construction began in 1958 on the site of the old city jail, and the cathedral's dedication occurred in 1965. The dome and pillars reflect the Renaissance style.

St Augustines's church is located, predictably enough, in St Augustine's street. It belongs to the monastic order of Augustine and still five full times monks / clergy who now run this thriving inner-city church.

The church has a wonderful fresh feel to it following a 3.7 million euro renovation project completed in 2005. I did not see how it looked beforehand, but I can only commend the efford of the archtects who have created a haven of peace and contemplation right in the heart of the city. It seems well used by people who wander in for a few moments to themselves, or God.

The seats are arranged facing each other, and it is an arrangement that really works. It also reflects a change in theological thinking - moving on from the 19th century ideas church worship as being almost totally preist-centered to one where the congregation take centre stage. This related to shift in Catholic thinking about the sanctity (and I would add dignity) of human beings.

From a tourism point of view, the main stain glass window and a couple of the side shrines are worth seeing.

3 more images

Christopher Columbus stopped in Galway in 1477, and the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas is the church he is said to have prayed in. Whether this story is true or not, this church is definitely worth a stop to see the medieval furnishings and the carved stone baptismal font. There are also interesting animal carvings on the outside near the top.

The church is dedicated to St. Nicholas, a 4th century Bishop of Myra in Lycia. Although he is best know today as the patron sanit of children or "Santa Claus", during the middle ages he was more commonly revered as the patron saint of sailors.

Christopher Columbus almost certainly worshipped here in 1477, and may well have been inspired by tales of St. Brendan the Navigator, an Irish monk who is believed to have sailed to America in the 6th century.

Is the largest medieval parish church in Ireland still i contstant use. It was built in 1320 on the site of an earlier chapel. During the 16th century, when Galway´s prosperity was at its height, the church was extended and the aisles to the north and south were added, along with the sourth transept, the Blessed Sacramente Cahpel, and the belfry.

Opened 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.

Cathedral of St Nicholas looks much older than it is. It was built between 1958 and 1965 and it stands on the grounds of the old city jail. I lost a bet once because I didn't believe it was that young ;)

My favorite thing to do is to get lost walking around the city. My second favorite thing to do is to find cool old churches while lost in random places in a new city. Galway was great for this.

I recommend that all of you save a day to just walk and explore. Leave the tour book at home and follow your feet where ever they lead you.