St. Carthage came to Lismore in 635 with a group of 500 monks. He established his monastic church on the site of the present cathedral. There has been a consecrated building on this site since 635. A stone church was built in the mid twelfth century but probably burned down in a big fire that swept through Lismore in 1207. It was rebuilt soon afterwards in its present form, but destroyed 400 years later in 1600, during a rebellion against the British. Richard Boyle, of Lismore Castle, pledged to rebuild the Cathedral. In 1827, the Tower and Spire were added in neo-gothic style.

St. Carthage's Tower and Spire

 

The Chancel

Rebuilt in 1811 by Sir Richard Morrison, architect.

 

Stained glass window by artist Burne Jones.

The peaceful churchyard cemetery, St. Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore, Ireland

April-May, 2003

 

I walked the peaceful cemetery,

Some stones too worn to read.

"Who is that buried there?"

A child struck down by a plague?

A father with calloused hands?

A young wife who died in childbirth,

Who worked hard for her family?

They now are at rest. At peace.

Their new home, Heaven above.

They are not here, but there!

I walked the peaceful cemetery at St. Carthage's.

And felt a feeling of peace throughout my life.

----BT

Cemetery, St. Carthage's, Lismore 2003

 

Mt. Melleray Abbey

 

Located about 5 miles north of Cappoquin, Mount Melleray Abbey is a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1932 by a group of Irish monks. It is a fully functional monastery and is open to visitors.