Clonfert Cathedral, Anglican cathedral in Clonfert, Ireland

Clonfert Cathedral is a Church of Ireland cathedral in Clonfert, County Galway, built in the Hiberno-Romanesque style from about 1180. Its west doorway is cut in six orders of animal heads, foliage and human heads, with a pointed hood above enclosing triangles alternating with heads. A square crenellated tower with a pointed arched doorway stands at the west end; the interior has a 15th-century chancel arch with angels, a rosette and a mermaid.

Saint Brendan founded a monastery on this site in the 6th century, and it grew into an important religious centre in the west of Ireland. The stone church seen today dates from the late 12th century and was altered several times in the centuries that followed.

The west doorway is lined with rows of carved heads and leaf patterns that remain visible today. It is widely regarded as one of the finest Romanesque doorways in Ireland.

The cathedral sits in a very small village and is hard to reach by public transport, so having your own vehicle makes the visit much easier. Visiting on a weekday usually means fewer people around, which allows more time to look closely at the stonework.

Inside the choir, there is a carved stone mermaid figure that is very rare in medieval Irish churches. She holds a mirror and a comb, two objects that in folk tradition were often linked to deception.