Saint Brendan's Cathedral

Clonfert, County Galway, Ireland
1165
Legend holds that Saint Brendan, known as "The Navigator," crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the sixth century some 900 years before Columbus. What is fact, however, is that he established an early medieval monastery and center of learning at Clonfert in County Galway. The present Hiberno-Romanesque-style cathedral dates from the mid-twelfth century. Although the building currently serves a Church of Ireland congregation, Irish Protestants and Catholics share interest in preserving this relic of their common cultural heritage. The solid stone edifice and bell tower is distinguished for its portal and sandstone doorway, acknowledged to be the finest in Ireland. The doorway is centered amid an exuberantly carved series of recessing arches featuring geometric, zoomorphic, and Celtic designs, above which are found several carved heads. Weathering has eroded much detail and the south transept is in ruins. Ill-conceived repairs have caused further damage. Interior plastering has prevented the stone from breathing, causing granulations, spalling, and general deterioration. Ireland's National Monuments Act excludes the church from receiving national funds because it is an active ecclesiastical property. No conservation work is underway and the small congregation cannot afford repairs.