Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral
Ardeaglais Naomh Fionnbarra
A Gothic Revival cathedral on the site where Cork's patron saint founded his settlement, with three spires and a west front covered in carvings.
St Fin Barre's Cathedral stands on the site where Cork's patron saint, Saint Finbarr, founded a monastery around 606 AD. The present building was designed by architect William Burges and completed in 1879. It is a leading example of Irish Gothic Revival architecture. Three spires, over a thousand carved figures on the west front, painted mosaic floors, and a golden angel ceiling make the interior extraordinarily ornate. Outside, a cannonball fired during an 18th-century siege is still lodged in the cathedral. Admission is about 7 euros. It is open roughly 10:00 to 17:30 Monday to Saturday, and open in the afternoon on Sundays.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat 10:00–17:30
Nearby sights
- Elizabeth Fort
- English Market
- Crawford Art Gallery
- Cork Butter Museum
- St Anne's Church, Shandon (Shandon Bells)
- University College Cork
- Fitzgerald's Park
- Cork City Gaol