Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo

History

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was opened on 26 July 1874 by Cardinal Paul Cullen of Dublin and consecrated on 1 July 1897.

Repair work to the fabric began in September 2016, when scaffolding was raised on the south tower to address water ingress. By January 2017 the south east and south west turrets had been re-pointed and, where the masonry was found to be quite thin, extra stone had been pinned and pointed into position; further grouting was to be carried out on their inner faces. The parish attributes the water ingress in part to an earlier re-pointing in hard cement, which cracks and then traps moisture in the rubble core behind the facing stones.

The building

The cathedral is built of cut limestone ashlar, the stones squared to fine joints and often set on lead shims during bedding, with a more informal random rubble construction behind the facing. The tower stands at the south entrance, with turrets at the south east and south west. The plan includes transepts and an apse.

The parish describes the building as Norman in style, as the only cathedral in Ireland in that style, and as of regional significance architecturally.

Notable features

The stained glass includes a cycle of saints, some of them in the apse. High on the southern wall of the western transept is a figure of King David, crowned, his right hand resting on top of an arched Egyptian harp and his left hand carrying an unfurled banderol lettered PSALMI. The glass of the figure is cut but left unstained, using a mottled effect known as cat's paw. Another window carries the way of the Cross and the Crucifixion, with Mary and John at the foot of the cross. The parish's account of the windows attributes them to the French glass painter Lobin.