St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh
(Information below taken from the Cathedral website, www.stpatricks-cathedral.org)
St. Patrick built a stone church on the hill known as Druim Saileach (Sallow Ridge ) in 445, so beginning the story of Armagh Cathedral. He ordained that Armagh should have the pre-eminence over all the churches of Ireland, a position which it holds to this day.
Around the Church Building in early days was built one of the most celebrated of the great Irish Monastic Schools to which students came from all over Europe.
Here in 1014, on the 'north side of the great church' was buried Brian Boru High King of Ireland. A plaque on the exterior west wall of the North Transept commemorates this event.
The plan of the Cathedral, as it now stands, is the enlarged design of Archbishop O'Scanlain in 1268. Although the Church on this hallowed site suffered destruction on at least 17 occasions during its long history it was always restored.
Major restoration took place between 1834 and 1840 and was carried out by Archbishop Lord John George Beresford who employed one of the most skilled architects of the day in the person of Lewis Nockalls Cottingham.
The most recent restoration took place in 2003/2004, focusing on the fabric of the building. The most acute problem being the repair and replacement of stonework to 11 aisle windows and 8 clerestory windows. In addition there were very necessary interior plaster repairs to the aisles, refurbishing of a portion of the south transept used as the Choir Robing Room, cleaning and repair of stonework and tiled floor in the Choir and Lady Chapel with complete interior redecoration and exterior landscaping.
Click here to visit the Cathedral website.