Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral

Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral is a Gothic revival three spire cathedral in the city of Cork, Ireland. It is dedicated to the Church of Ireland and was completed in 1879. Saint Fin Barre's is located on the south side of the River Lee, on a site that has been a place of worship since the seventh century, and is named after Saint Finbarr, patron saint of the city. It was once of the Diocese of Cork; it is the primary of three cathedrals in the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.The original seventh century monastery underwent successive waves of church building until the late medieval period. Around 1536, during the Protestant Reformation, the cathedral became part of the Established Church, later known as the Church of Ireland. The 18th century building was widely regarded as plain and featureless. A new building was commissioned during the 19th century, initiated by an Anglican church intent on strengthening its hand after the reforms of penal law. Construction began in 1863, the first major work of the renowned Victorian architect William Burges, who designed the outer and interior architecture, the entrance sculptures, the stained glass, mosaics and interior furniture.