St. Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork

The Anglican Cathedral in Cork dominates the skyline in the area where the Manor is, and it was just a short walk there. Although it is undergoing some restoration, it is still a gorgeous church. St. Fin Barre is the patron saint of Cork, and according to tradition, he was the first Bishop of Cork who founded a monastery on the site where the church stands. The present church was built in 1864. Within the church stand 1260 sculptures, and during the restoration, several casts for the sculptures have been discovered, which is a rarity since the casts are usually destroyed.

The organist was practicing for a recital on Friday, so we were treated to a bit of music emanating from the largest organ in Ireland, encompassing more than 4000 pipes. The church also has large stained-glass windows detailing numerous scenes from the Bible. An honor wall for those killed in WWI, a small chapel for early Sunday morning services, and a beautiful mosaic on the floor in front of the altar were just a few of the touches that made this cathedral memorable for us.