Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway, Catholic cathedral in Galway, Ireland.
The cathedral is a Catholic place of worship in Galway featuring Renaissance Revival architecture distinguished by a large domed roof. Its interior is defined by stone columns and rounded arches that emphasize classical design elements.
Construction began in 1958 on the site of the former city prison and upon completion in 1965 it was the last large stone cathedral built in Europe. This completion marked the end of an architectural era as later cathedral-like structures pursued different design directions.
The cathedral has had an adult choir since its dedication in 1965; it sings at major ceremonies and at the Sunday 10.30 am Mass, drawing on music from the 16th to the 21st centuries, Gregorian chant and Irish traditional music. The building is jointly dedicated to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and to St Nicholas, a pairing recalled in its Irish name, Ard-Eaglais Mhaighdean na Deastógála agus Naomh Nioclás.
Daily masses are held in English and Irish with multiple Sunday services and a Saturday evening vigil. Visitors should check opening times before visiting and dress respectfully, especially during services.
The gallery organ, built by Liverpool firm Rushworth & Dreaper in 1966, was rebuilt and enlarged by Irish organ-builder Trevor Crowe between 2006 and 2007. It now has three manuals and 59 speaking stops, and features in an annual series of summer concerts. A smaller portable one-manual, four-stop instrument is used in the side chapels.
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