Killaloe Cathedral, Anglican cathedral and national monument in Killaloe, Ireland.
Killaloe Cathedral is a medieval stone cathedral on the western bank of the River Shannon in County Clare. It has a Romanesque doorway on its south side and Gothic arches inside, along with a collection of carved grave slabs.
The cathedral was built in the 13th century on a site where Christian worship had already been practiced for several hundred years. Killaloe was a bishop's seat for a long period, which gave the town a central role in the medieval Church in Ireland.
Inside the cathedral, a stone carved with both Ogham script and Viking runes stands as a reminder of the different peoples who once met in this part of Ireland. Few places in the country display these two writing systems side by side on a single object.
The cathedral sits in the center of Killaloe and is easy to find from the main street. The grounds have uneven stone surfaces, so sturdy shoes are a good idea.
Next to the cathedral stands a small chapel with a Romanesque doorway that predates the main building. This doorway is considered one of the finest examples of Romanesque stone carving still standing in Ireland.
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