To spot St Mary’s Cathedral, just look straight ahead for the tallest grey limestone building with pointy spires rising above everything around you-it’s impossible to miss on the city’s highest ground!
Now, imagine yourself standing here in the 1850s, with the chisel and clatter of workers echoing as local limestone gets stacked up into this massive, awe-inspiring church. St Mary’s Cathedral rises in true Gothic style, with long tall windows and a sky-high steeple inspired by Gloucester Cathedral in England-you might say Kilkenny wanted its own taste of grand drama! The man who made all this happen was Bishop William Kinsella, who asked the famous architect William Deane Butler to create the plans. Building started in 1843 and took a whopping 14 years! When it finally opened in 1857, people came at dawn for a ceremony that lasted nearly three hours-no chance of dozing off in those pews! The bell up high was cast in Dublin by John Murphy, and if you listen closely, you can almost hear its echo. Make sure to step inside and see the Madonna sculpture by the Italian artist Giovanni Benzoni. With its soaring towers and local stone, St Mary’s is truly the heart of Kilkenny-you’ve reached the top, both literally and for your tour!
