St.Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork City is very beautiful and inspirational. The existing cathedral itself is not ancient and antique, planning and construction beginning in 1865. The remarkable fact is that there has been a religious structure on this site since 606 as the story goes. St. Fin Barre founded his School of Cork there in 606 as a monastic school. A succession of cathedrals has been at this place. Some traces remain of ancient cathedrals. One can easily walk up the hill to the cathedral, the spires reigning tall above the skyline from Western Road in Cork City. We have done it many times. I invite you to visit this beautiful and holy place if you ever are in Cork City. It is wonderful! The facade of the building is remarkable. As you approach the entrance you encounter three beautifully carved and decorated portals. The left portal has the figures of eight of the twelve Apostles. Phililp, holding the cross, Bartholomew, holding a knife, Simon holding a saw and John the Baptist,clothed in Camel's hair, Andrew holding his cross in the form of the letter X, James holding the pilgrim's staff, Thomas holding a square, Matthias holding a spear in his right hand. The tympanum over the doorway has the following scenes: The expulsion from paradise, Adam working with Eve and family, and the Sacrifices of Cain and Able.The central portal contains on either side the figures of the five wise and five foolish virgins. Between them stands the bridegroom in festal garments.The right portal has figures of the four Gospel writers and the four Apostles whose writings are included in the New Testment: Mark, Matthew, Jude, Peter, Paul, James, John, and Luke.The photos below are of the left portal with the figures of the eight Apostles.

This is the entrance at the left portal as described in above descriptions with eight of the twelve apostles. Sculptures by Thomas Nicholls.