St. Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe, Co. Clare
The 13th century St. Flannan’s Cathedral located at the southern hub of Lough Derg in Killaloe is well worth a visit and offers the visitor a wonderful opportunity to experience the region’s rich past.
The Cathedral is just a five minute walk away from the local Heritage Centre. It is famous for its unique stone carving, featuring Ogham and Runic inscriptions, situated on a pedestal near a magnificent Romanesque doorway. This carving offers a direct link to the time of Brian Boru.
The carving is thought to have been done by Thorgrim, a Viking convert about 1000 AD. It is the only known example of a stone with a bilingual inscription in Irish Ogham and Scandinavian Runes.
The early monastery on this site, situated at the southern end of Lough Derg, was founded by St Fachnan. He was followed as Abbot by St Flannan, who died around 639 and who is the patron saint of the diocese of Killaloe.
Beautiful door
A fine Romanesque Cathedral was founded on the site about 1185 by Donal Mór O Brien (1168-1194) but was later destroyed. The beautiful west door of the destroyed church was preserved when the present structure was built in the early 13th century, and it was inserted into the building where it can be seen today.
Tradition has it that an ancient tombstone on the floor, in the recess of the Romanesque doorway, covers the remains of Murchad Mor O’Brien, great-grandson of Brian Boru, who died in 1119. He was the last of the Dalcassian Clan (of which Brian Boru was earlier leader) to be High King of Ireland and the last king to rule from Kincora, the High King’s Palace located close by.
In the grounds of the Cathedral is St. Flannan’s oratory, a 12th-century Romanesque church.
For further information please contact
Killaloe Tourist Information Office, (seasonal opening)
Killaloe, Co Clare, Republic of Ireland
Telephone: +353 (0)61 376866
