Content
Origins and History
Cathedral
Castle
Abbeys
St. Brigid
Annals
Postcards
St. Brigid of
Ireland Suite
Pictures of Kildare
Kildare in Times Past
Programmes
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St Brigid's Cathedral
The present restored Norman cathedral most likely occupies
the site of the original pagan shrine to the goddess Brigid
and the later early Christian foundation and church of St.
Brigid.
The cathedral was built by the Norman Bishop Ralph of Bristol
in 1223. It is built in the early gothic style with a square
central tower. Note that the cathedral has been built for
defence as well as worship, a legacy of troubled times in
the early Norman period. The cathedral continued to serve
the people of Kildare down the centuries, though after the
Reformation it gradually fell into disrepair and by 1641 it
was totally ruined following the Confederate Wars. It was
restored to its present glory in the 19th. century and has
in recent years undergone further restoration.
Stone Carving Collection
The interior has a very interesting collection of carvings
ranging from early Christian to Norman and later. The finest
piece in the collection is the finely carved tomb of Bishop
Walter Wellesley who died in 1539. Here are some representative
samples of the extensive collection of stone carvings exhibited
in the cathedral and ranging from early Christian to the 17th.
century.
Click
here for more details and images of the Stone Carving Collection
Cathedral Grounds
The grounds of the cathedral contain a number of fascinating
links to the early history of the site including a Round Tower,
Celtic Cross and St. Brigid's Firehouse.
Click
here for more details and images of the Cathedral Grounds
St. Brigid's Cathedral prior to it's 19th century restoration
to its present glory.
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