Located in Cork City centre, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral is one of the most beautiful and interesting buildings in Ireland. The building is rich in sculptures with over 1260 of them built into the building and St Finbarr himself is said to have founded this school of teaching in the 7th century.
It is believed that the place was used by Christians from the 7th century, first as a monastery.
The original building is said to have stood there until the 11th century when it either fell into disrepair or was destroyed by the Norman conquerors of the British Isles.
A new cathedral was built in the 1730s, which was demolished again in the mid-19th century. Work on the new cathedral began in 1863, the first major project for architect William Burges. The pointed gothic cathedral is rich in sculptures with over 1260 of them built into the building, to name just a handful of historical facts.
In addition to the considerable historical background, the cathedral is also known for its choir. The choir consists of male and female singers, choir students and lay vicars. The boys’ choir and the girls’ choir sing separately with the adults. The Friday prayer at 6.15pm and the Sunday service at 11.15am and 3.30pm are accompanied by the choir.
Look out for the beautiful building with triple spires made of limestone. St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral is an 11 minute walk, from the Imperial Hotel.
The St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday and can be visited between 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.30pm.
Guided tours will take place every hour from 10.30am to 4.30pm. There is no tour at 1.30pm.
An admission fee is charged to maintain the listed building and keep it available to visitors.
Adults: €6 Senior/ Students: €5 Children under 16 are free.
The staff also offers group tours upon request. These can be individually tailored to your needs.
Situated 8km from Cork City, this historic castle is most famous for its stone…
Cork is a city with a very rich historical and archaeological heritage much of it…
Nano Nagle Place is a great place to start your discovery of Cork City and…
Located in Cork City centre, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral is one of the most beautiful…
Built in 1722, the Shandon Bells is one of Cork’s famous visual landmarks.
A 1582 Cork landmark, which includes entry to Journeys of Exploration.
With such a rich heritage, history and so many stories to tell a trip to…
Fitzgerald Park is one of Cork’s major visitor attractions and sits alongside the River Lee.
Get in touch 
Gift