Historical Postcard Collection: Thurles - The Cathedral of the Assumption
Bailiúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: Durlas – Ardeaglais na Deastógála
Thurles is known as Tipperary's "Cathedral Town" and it is here that the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly has based his residence since the mid 18th Century. The Catherdral for the diocese was originally situated on the Rock of Cashel, but following the Reformation it came into the possession of the Church of Ireland, which later abandoned the Rock in favour of a new Cathedral in the town. The seat of power for the Catholic Church, however, did not find a new, permanent base for itself until about 1750, when Archbishop James Butler took up residence on today's Cathedral Street, next door to what was the old Carmelite Priory. The Archbishop of Cashel and Emly has lived at the same location ever since.
Its Early Predecessors
The Cathedral as we know it today succeeded several previous buildings; among them was the small, thatched 18th Century "Mathew Chapel", while its successor, the "Big Chapel", was built in 1807. It was dedicated to St. Patrick, as was the Cathedral on the Rock that the Catholic Church left in the 16th Century. Work on what is today known as the Cathedral of the Assumption began in 1861, inspired by the drive of Archbishop Dr. Patrick Leahy. He believed that the existing building was "not worthy of this great diocese, much less to be the metropolitan church of Munster".
Architecture and Decoration
The architecture of the Cathedral is closest to Romanesque, and its façade was based on the Cathedral of Pisa, the bell tower of which famously leans. On the interior, the massive pillars are of Cork, Galway, Kilkenny and Sicilian marble, while their plinths were quarried much closer to home at Leugh, just outside the town. Perhaps the most ornate features of the building's decoration are the altars, which are built of inlaid marble that was finished by craftsmen in Thurles. The tabernacle, which dates from the 16th Century, was granted from a Jesuit Church in Rome.
There is a peal of eight bells in the bell tower, one of which is dedicated to Dr. Leahy himself, while the others are dedicated to saints or religious mysteries.
Source – Corbett & Nolan, "Thurles – The Cathedral Town"
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last updated on: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:32:00 GMT
Tugtar Baile Ardeaglaise Thiobraid Árann ar Dhurlas agus is anseo a chónaigh gach Ardeaspag Chaisil agus Imligh ó lár an 18ú hAois ar aghaidh. Bhí an Ardeaglais sa deoise seo ar Charraig Phádraig i gCaiseal, ach tugadh d’Eaglais na hÉireann i ndiaidh an Reifirméisin é sin, cé gur thréig siadsan an Charraig i bhfábhur Ardeaglais nua sa bhaile ceart. Ní raibh suíochán cumhachta buan ag an Eaglais Chaitliceach, áfach, go dtí thart ar 1750, nuair a thosaigh an tArdeaspag Séamas de Buitléir ag cónaí ar Sráid na hArdeglaise na linne seo, in aice leis an Sean-Prióireacht Chairmilíteach. Chónaigh gach Ardeaspag Chaisil agus Imligh ansin ó shin ar aghaidh.
Réamhtheachtaithe Luatha
Tháinig Ardeaglais an lae atá inniu ann in áit mórán foirgnimh eile; ina measc bhí an séipéal beag, ceann-tuí "Séipéal Mhaitiú " ón 18ú hAois, agus tógadh an “Séipéal Mór” in 1807. Bhí sé tiomnaithe i ndiaidh Phádraig Naofa, cosúil leis an Ardeaglais ar an gCarraig a d’fhág an Eaglais Chaitliceach sa 16ú hAois. Thosaigh obair ar Ardeaglais na Deastógála in 1861, le hionsparáid ón Ardeaspag an Dr. Pádraig Ó Laoithe. Chreid sé nárbh fhiú an foirgneamh a bhí ann don deoise, gan bacaint le hEaglais oireachais na Mumhan i gcoitine.
Ailtireacht agus Maisiú
Tá cuma Rómhánúil ar ailtireacht na hArdeaglaise, agus ta a haghaidh bunaithe ar Ardeaglais Pisa, a sheasann a cloigtheach go cam. Taobh istigh, tógadh na colúin ollmhóra as marmar ó Chorcaigh, ón nGaillimh, ó Chill Chainnigh agus ón tSicil, agus tháinig a bhasanna ó chairéal díreach taobh amuigh den bhaile. Is iad na haltóirí is ornáidí san fhoirgneamh, tógadh as marmar inleagtha iad a críochnaíodh i nDurlas. Tagann an taibearnacal ó séipéal Íosánach sa Róimh.
Tá cling d’ocht gclog sa chloigtheach, ceann amháin acu tiomnaithe i ndiadh an Ardeaspaig Uí Laoithe, na cinn eile i ndiaidh naomh éagsúla nó rúndiamhair.
Foinse – Corbett & Nolan, "Thurles – The Cathedral Town"
Léigh níos mó faoi:
Brabhsáil an bailiúchán chártaí poist stairiúla:
Cluain Meala - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - Gleann Eatharlaí
nuashonraithe ar: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:32:00 GMT