Cathedral of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholic cathedral in Carlow, Ireland.
The Cathedral of the Assumption is a Catholic place of worship built in Gothic Revival style with pointed arches and ribbed vaults throughout its structure. The entire building is constructed from dimension stone and stands as a major architectural landmark in the town.
The foundation stone was placed in 1828 by Bishop James Doyle, making this the second oldest Catholic cathedral built in Ireland during that era. Its construction reflected a period of renewed Catholic church building across the country.
The cathedral's name comes from its 1833 dedication to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The choir founded in the 1960s under organist Karl Seeldrayers grew into the Carlow Choral Society in 1965, and Liam Lawton directed the music from 1987 to 1999. A youth choir and the Cathedral Schola, founded in 2009, still sing here.
The cathedral is accessible several days each week and welcomes visitors to attend services or explore the interior at their own pace. The best times to visit are outside service hours when you can enjoy the architecture without interruption.
The tower and lantern were modelled on the Belfry of Bruges in Belgium. The grey-blue stone came from a quarry on the Tullow Road, while Colonel Henry Bruen of Oak Park supplied granite from Graiguenaspidogue and the oak for the great-framed roof from his nearby estate.
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