St. Mel's Cathedral, Longford, Catholic cathedral in Longford, Ireland.
St. Mel's Cathedral is a neoclassical stone building on the north-east side of Longford, built between 1840 and 1856 to designs by Joseph B. Keane. Its roof is supported by 24 limestone columns quarried at nearby Newtowncashel. A belfry by John Bourke was added in 1860 and a portico by George Ashlin in 1889.
The cathedral was constructed in the 1800s as the main Catholic place of worship for the region. A major fire in 2009 severely damaged the building, but a complete reconstruction brought it back to service in 2014.
The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Mél, a companion of Saint Patrick who was ordained bishop at Ardagh and died in 488. Its silhouette appears on the crest of Longford Town, the League of Ireland club, and on those of all County Longford GAA teams.
The cathedral is open to visitors during worship times, with services held several times each week throughout the year. It is best to check current Mass schedules in advance, as timings may shift according to religious calendar dates.
The building features prominently on the official emblems of local sports organizations in the area. This representation on team crests reflects how deeply the cathedral is woven into the town's sense of identity and community pride.
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