The Cathedral of the Assumption is just a few steps from the town centre of Thurles, walking east along Cathedral Street. We begin our investigation of the Cathedral by looking at two old Cathedral photographs. The top photograph shows the baptistry tucked into the corner of the nave, with the covered aisle running into the transept. We notice the set of clerestory windows above. The second view shows the other side of the Cathedral as seen from the Ursuline Convent Garden. This gives a good view of the apse and the Croke Chapel. There are tall statues adorning the gables of nave and transepts, but it is not possible to identify them here. INDEX
2. FACING CATHEDRAL STREET AFB
The architectural style of the Cathedral is classed as Romanesque Revival, and the façade was inspired by the Cathedral of Pisa. The façade has three components: the bell tower, the face of the nave, and at right the baptistry.
3. NEAR THE FRONT GATE GSV
We gain this view as we move closer to the main front gates. Two items to note here. The green screened frame hides a statue of Archbishop Patrick Leahy which was badly vandalised. And at left, a building extension from the corner of the Cathedral reaches out to a covered crucifix.
4. THE SIDE CRUCIFIX LZ
The covered crucifix at the street end of the building bounding the parking area is shielded from the weather by a small gable roof. I can find no information about its construction.
5. FAÇADE GSV
We have already noted (#1) the statues adorning the front gable roof. There are three statues here, eight and a half feet high, and made of Portland stone. The centre one is the Blessed Virgin Mary, the one next to the bell tower is St Albert, and the one on the baptistry side is St Patrick. For completeness, we note that the corresponding gable figures on the North transept (left side here) are Our Lord, St Peter holding the Keys of the Kingdom, and St Paul witha sword. The figures on the South (right side) transept are St Augustine at top, St Ursula with a crowned head, and St Brigid holding a book with an oak branch.
6. BELL TOWER GSV GSV
To the left of the main entry is the limestone campanile or bell tower, which can be seen for miles around, being 120 feet high. A feature of the tower is the clock which was presented to the people of Thurles by Archbishop Croke in 1895. The campanile contains a peal of eight bells, with each bell dedicated to a particular saint or mystery. The (Latin) inscription on the largest bell reads: ‘Patrick Leahy, Archbishop of Cashel, caused us sisters to be made by John Murphy, AD 1867. I am to the honour of God and of the blessed Virgin Mary assumed into heaven. The other bells are dedicated to St Patrick, St Albert, St Ailbe, St Joseph, St Augustine, St Columba, St Peter and St Paul. They are now unable to be used for change ringing, and are chimed by hammers. [Photo1 Credit: GSV Sen is not a Man; Photo2 Credit: GSV Jorge Batista]
7. STATUE AFB
This statue of Archbishop Leahy was erected in 1911. Professor Pietro Lazzerini executed the eight-foot statue of Sicilian marble at Carrara in Italy. The limestone pedestal was fashioned in Cashel by Mr Best to the design of Ashlin. Those who remembered Dr Leahy remarked that it was an admirable likeness of him. Regrettably the statue was vandalised in 2019 with the head being removed. It was restored in 2023.
8. BAPTISTRY GSV AFB
On the right side of the façade is the baptistry. This circular building is separate from the main building, as is the case with Pisa Cathedral and other continental buildings. The building is byzantine in style, and built from local limestone. The dome of the baptistry is copper. [Photo1 Credit: Ann Lupa]
9. INSIDE THE BAPTISTRY GSV GSV CP
Internally, the main feature of the baptistry is the baptismal font. It is unusual, because it one formed part of a fountain. This is indicated by the many water exits around the fluted edge. The basin is supported by three sea horses, and has four inter-twined serpents carved in relief above its upper rim. The single window shows Jesus being baptised in the Jordan by John. And above is the dome supported by marble columns of many colours, and at top the starry night sky. [Photos 1,2 Credit: Damian Zapart]
10. APPROACHING THE CATHEDRAL GSV GSV
Time for us to enter the Cathedral! We approach the three entry doors in the nave façade. [Photos Credit: GSV Carol Benzies]
11. ENTRY DOORS GSV GSV
Three arched doorways form the main entrance to the Cathedral. The semicircular tympanum above each door contains a carved head: from left St Peter, Our Lord, and St Paul. As well there is a statue on each side of the central door: St Joseph. and our Lady. The central door is open, so we pass through into the Cathedral.
12. LOOKING DOWN THE NAVE PC
We pass through the entry door into a small narthex or porch below the organ loft, and our first view of the nave is through one of the supporting arches. First impressions? A traditional cathedral with rows of dark wooden pews separated by a dark green mosaic central aisle. Dark brown marble columns with impressive white capitals supporting arches down the sides of the nave and right around the front circular apse. High clerestory windows separated by smaller brown columns, each with a carved head at its base. A shallow rounded ‘barrel’ ceiling with a little barrel decoration. All impressive, but a little unexpected for an Irish cathedral! [Photo Credit: Patrick Comerford]
13. ARCHDIOCESE GSV
The Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly is divided into 46 parishes which are spread across two counties: 35 in Tipperary and 11 in Limerick. This interesting map is on the North end wall of the narthex. [Photo Credit: Jorge Baptista]
14. HOLY WATER STOUPS CP
These two historic stoups holding holy water are found at the sides of the narthex. They survive from the old ‘Big Chapel’ where they were used for baptisms.
15. NAVE CEILING LZ
The nave ceiling is tastefully adorned with painted bands, borders, medallions and scrolls. Apparently these were added at the instigation of Dr Croke, with the paintwork undertaken by Earley and Powell of Dublin.
16. WEST NAVE AFB
We walk down the central nave and turn to view the West wall. We notice first the windows on either side. These are typical of the nave windows: a diagonal cross-hatch with a medallion at top and bottom. Below each pair of windows stands a confessional. At centre is a rose window, with a beautiful organ below.
17. ORGAN AFB
The pipe organ is adorned with four trumpet-blowing angels: notice the shadows on the side walls! In 1826 a fine organ was installed into the big Chapel, and this was later transferred to the present Cathedral and upgraded, having an extra manual fitted. In 1935 the organ had a major overhaul by Evans and Barr of Dublin. For the first time the organ would be totally controlled by electricity with pipes which were 90% new. Dr Harty blessed the new organ on 7 July 1935. Since then a new console, linked to the organ gallery has been installed in the body of the Cathedral.
18. ROSE WINDOW AFB
The rose window was created by Franz Borgias Mayer of Munich. The window has ten-fold rotational symmetry. The central image of Christas the Alpha and Omega is surrounded by ten outward pointing sprigs of flowers, and there is an outer ring of 20 discs showing clusters of grapes.
19. TWO NAVE VIEWS LZ AFB
We take time to look across the nave. The dark brown pillars are made of Cork marble, with capitals of Caen stone. Each capital is a work of art, individually carved. We notice the stations of the cross around the walls, the pulpit, and the two statues against the far nave columns. Below the clerestory windows is a line of text: ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntátis.’ The words translate to ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.’ These are words of a Christian hymn known as The Greater Doxology’.
20. STATIONS OF THE CROSS LZ CP
Around the nave and transept walls, and between the windows are a set of the 14 Stations of the Cross – scenes of Jesus’ journey from Pilate’s court to Calvary’s cross. These are used as an aid to meditation, particularly around Easter time.