St. Macartan's Cathedral Exterior

 Cathedral: western face - J Chester

The Cathedral stands high on the town-land of Tirkeenan, visible on all main roads approaching Monaghan town. Only in the late 1800's did Monaghan become established as the  Cathedral town. The foundation of a diocesan seminary called St. Macartan's College in 1840 at Mullaghmurphy on the Derry Road and the expansion of Monaghan into a major town lead to a decision to establish a Cathedral and bishop's residence in Monaghan. Bishop Charles MacNally proposed the plan and it was accepted on 3rd January 1858. The 8 acre site for the Cathedral and bishop's house was purchased from Humphrey Jones of Clontibret and on June 21st 1861 the Cathedral foundation stone was laid. Its architect James Joseph McCarthy (1817 - 1882) proposed a 14th century Gothic style and the building commenced in 1862. Most of the limestone used in the building came from a quarry very near the Cathedral site at Old Cross Square. After McCarthy's death in late 1882 the architect William Hague from Cavan oversaw the building of the spire which stands 81 metres high and the gate lodge. The completion of the Cathedral was overseen by Bishop MacNally's successor, Bishop James Donnelly and on 21st August 1892 it was dedicated to the service of God and to the patronage of Macartan, patron saint of the diocese.

Western Face - J Chester

St Paul

Saints Peter and Paul stand, on each side of the main western door, Peter to the left and Paul to the right. Peter clutches the keys of authority given to him by Jesus and Paul carries the sword of martyrdom. Tradition has handed down how Peter died by the cross and Peter by the sword. 

St. Peter standing left of the western door

Above the west door Jesus presents the keys of authority to Peter.

Southern Face - A O D

The East Face - J Chester

North & Western Face - J Chester

Statues on the south face - A O D

On the southern face of the Cathedral there are a number of interesting statues. Standing from left to right are; St. Tiarnach, St. Ultan of Ardbraccan patron of children, St. Columcille of Derry and Iona, St. Dympna of Gheel in Belgium and Tydavnet in the centre, Heber Mc Mahon the warrior bishop of Clogher (3rd right), Bishop Charles Mc Nally, native of the parish of Monaghan and Rackwallace and founder of the Cathedral holding a partially built Cathedral and finally, Bishop Donnelly holding the completed and dedicated Cathedral in his left arm. 

The statues on the northern face of the Cathedral are of Old Testament personalities; Abraham with his staff, Moses with scroll and tablet, David with lyre, Isaiah holding the tablet foretelling the conception of Christ, Jeremiah appealing for help with arms outstretched, St. Joachim and St Anne the parents of Mary the mother of Christ.

 Statues of Old Testament personalities on the north face - J Chester

St. Macartan's Cathedral Interior

Between 1983 and 1986 the Cathedral sanctuary was radically redesigned in accordance with the liturgical norms of the Second Vatican Council. The architect was Gerald MacCann and the designers of the new furnishings were Michael and his wife, Frances Biggs.

Photo by Donal Mc Enroe

Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve 2008 by J Chester

Photo by Donal Mc Enroe

Mass of Chrism on Holy Thursday 9th April 2009 (Photo - J Chester)

The cathedral is also a parish building. It is where we gather for Sunday Mass, baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals and for the parish celebrations of Christmas, Holy Week and Easter. May we continue to be the living stones of the parish of Monaghan and Rackwallace.

Photo by Donal Mc Enroe

On the north side of the sanctuary a cloister links the sacristy. One can pray the Stations of the Cross there. The Stations were painted in acrylic by Frances Biggs in 1990.  

Cloister to cathedral sanctuary - J Chester

Cloister to sacristy and north exit - J Chester

Along the corridor to the north exit the deceased bishops of the diocese of Clogher, the Episcopi Clogherensis, are listed beginning with Bishop Cináeth Ua Baígill (d 1135) to Bishop John Edmund de Courcy (1484 - 1494) whose name is at the top of the middle panel below and up to Bishop Patrick Mulligan (1970 - 1979), predecessor to Bishop Joseph Duffy. In all, fifty one bishops are named on the panels.

A crypt containing the remains of four bishops, Bishop Charles Mc Nally (1844 - 1864), James Donnelly (1864 - 1893), Bishop Richard Owens (1894 - 1909) and Bishop Patrick Mc Kenna (1909 - 1942) lies under the main sanctuary of the Cathedral. A plaque honours their names on the south exit. Two bishops are buried outside on  side by side on the north side, Bishop Eugene O'Callaghan (1943 - 1969) and Bishop Patrick Mulligan.

The graves of Bishop Eugene O'Callaghan (left) and Bishop Patrick Mulligan (right)

Cathedral Centenary Prayer

1892 -1992

This prayer was composed for the celebration of the centenary of St. Macartan's Cathedral in 1992

O Lord, we praise and thank you

for the steadfast faith of all our people,

for the people of the Diocese of Clogher....

for our ancestors who laboured here 100 years ago

with effort, dedication and deep faith.

With calloused hands and loving hearts

they built this Cathedral -

on foundations of hope - on pillars of love.

Their names are written large on every stone;

their hopes embedded deep in living soil,

Lord, may we join together

to commemorate and to celebrate.

We thank you for the 100 years gone by.

We ask your blessing for the year which lies ahead.

May St. Macartan's Cathedral stand serene,

a sign of faith,

shelter for those who need comfort -

a well of warmth, light and love.

May we come here to pray,

to praise......to give thanks,

to ask your guidance through the maze of paths

that stretch before us.

May this house be for us and future generations

a beacon, a guide, a resting place,

a house of peace,

a place of reconciliation,

a centre of unity. Amen

Bibliography

A Cathedral Renewed, St. Macartan's, Monaghan, edited by Eltin O'Griffin O.CARM., Columba Press, Dublin, 1998. ISBN 1856072517.

Diocese of Clogher AD 2000 A celebration, edited by Father La Flynn, Editions du Signe, B.P. 94, 67038 Strasbourg, France, 2000. ISBN: 2-7468-0142-6.

Monaghan Cathedral, Joseph Duffy, Bishop of Clogher, The Irish Herirage Series: Vol 72, Eason & Son Ltd, Dublin, 1992, ISBN 1-873430-02-7.

St. Macartan's Cathedral, Monaghan, Diocese of Clogher, Brian Deery, St. Macartan's Diocesan Trust, Monaghan, R & S Printers, Monaghan, 2008. ISBN 978 0 9560948 0 3.