Christian worship has been offered on this site since the seventh century. Standing inside, that is…read morenot difficult to believe. The current structure was designed by William Burges, appointed architect in 1862, and consecrated on St. Andrew's Day, 1870 -- initially budgeted at £15,000, ultimately costing £100,000 by completion. Every pound of that overspend is visible and entirely justified. The towers and spires are crafted from Cork limestone, the interior features red Cork marble, and the walls of Bath stone hold stained glass windows that retain their vivid, unfaded colors -- among the finest in Ireland. The gentleman at the entry desk was genuinely kind, unhurried, and offered historical context that deepened the visit in a way a leaflet simply cannot. That kind of quiet, knowledgeable hospitality is rare and worth noting. Burges' meticulous attention extended to every corner -- sculpture, mosaics, furniture, and metalwork all bear his hand. Walking through the interior, the cumulative effect of the detail is something you have to experience in person. Photography captures the scale but not the feeling. The cathedral also houses Ireland's only pit organ, boasting 4,600 pipes -- first used at the 1870 consecration and still in regular use for lunchtime recitals and choral services. The Choral Foundation at St Fin Barre's has been in continuous existence for over 700 years, which is a fact worth pausing on. The entry fee is modest and directly supports conservation of an irreplaceable building. The grounds and labyrinth outside are free. If you are in Cork City, this is a non-negotiable stop -- not because you should, but because you will not regret it. Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No

Actually seeing pic of the cathedral with the colorful houses is the reason I wanted to come to…read morethis area. Otherwise probably wouldn't have came to cobh or Cork. The church was amazing and beautiful inside and out. Finding the angle with the colorful houses took a minute. There is a park across from the colorful houses that is decent view but the best was above that street on private property. There is a sign requesting donations for use of the spot. They planted a tree that seems like it will soon ruin the view. At the church the wind was sever.

Wanted to drop by a Catholic church while we were in Cork, Ireland. We dropped by the Cathedral of…read moreSt. Mary & St. Anne. There was no mass taking place at the time so we were able to explore the church a bit and take some photos. Of course, we said our prayers and thanked God for the opportunity to visit Ireland. The church is very lovely. Highly recommend dropping in if you want to say a prayer and give thanks.

Have attended a few funerals recently in the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne (better known as the…read moreNorth Cathedral). The harsh stone of the outside indicates a similar interior but that, at least nowadays, is not the case, the inside being bright and airy. The church itself was commenced in 1808 but a later fire meant the interior had to be re-modelled in 1828 and GR Pain's work has been described as "one of the country's finest examples of a Florid Gothic Style of architecture". It is the chief Catholic church of the city and Bishop Cornelius Lucey, one of its most famous bishops, is buried in the grounds. The church holds records of baptisms and marriages going back to 1748. It is close to St Anne's of Shandon and on most bus tours and may also be found by following the very interesting Shandon Walk (available in the tourist office in Grand Parade).

I woke up on Sunday with the urge to go to church, as it overlooked the Leonardo Hotel. I admired…read morethe beautiful stones and the church on the hill. I am so glad I decided to visit as the service was very uplifting. Everyone was welcoming, and Reverend Richie was especially kind. Afterward, I enjoyed coffee and a pleasant chat. Coming from Jacksonville, Florida, it was truly wonderful to be able to fellowship in such a lovely setting.

Trinity, Cork Presbyterian Church…read more Little William Street off York Street is the current (and long term) situation of the Trinity, the Cork Presbyterian Church. It is on an eye catching site at the junction of McCurtain Street and Brian Boru Street. The congregation was founded, mainly by Scottish settlers, in the 1830s and eventually a building was erected in Queen Street (now Father Matthew Street). The present Gothic-style building at Summerhill North dates from 1861 and has three distinctive stained glass windows to represent the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Trinity). About 30 families are now linked to the church and there has been a recent boost thanks to immigrants from places as diverse as South Korea, Hungary, Brazil, Cameroun, Nigeria and the USA.

ST PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH The parish of St Peter and St…read morePaul's covers most of the city centre from Oliver Plunkett Street to the North Channel of the River Lee. The parish has baptism records going back as far as 1769 (now computerised). There is a stunning illustration, from the London Illustrated News of the time, of the interior of the landmark church, built in 1866, http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/places/stpatricksstreet/selectedbuildings/sspeterpaulschurch/ The spire that architect EW Pugin had planned for it was never built but the church, though now cramped by neighbouring buildings, is regarded as a "magnificent essay in Neo-Gothic". Paul Street. 4276573 http://www.corkandross.org/parishes.jsp?parishID=59

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH Down river from St Fin Barre's…read moreCathedral, on the opposite bank, stands the Capuchins' Holy Trinity Church, classified architecturally as Regency Gothic-style with Gothic-Revival portico. Its location makes it one of the most viewed, not necessarily the best known, of the many churches in the city. The river side site was selected by Fr Matthew and the foundation stone was laid in October 1832 but lack of funds and other practical difficulties meant that the church was unfinished when consecrated 18 years later. In the early 1890s, Dominic Coakley's successful design reduced the scale of G.R. Pain's original plan; the Holy Trinity, now boasting a spire and facade, was finally completed. The church contains stained glass panels by the Harry Clarke studios and the stained glass window memorial to Daniel O'Connell behind the high altar. The Capuchins themselves are proud of replica of the Damiano Crucifix.

SHANDON CHURCH St Anne's Church, high on a northside hill,…read moreis one of the most familiar landmarks in Cork City, visited by many tourists but generally ignored as a visit by the locals. I walked up there recently and enjoyed my stroll. The historic church has eight bells 8 which weigh 6 tons and first rang out over the city in 1752. The patients in the nearby (now closed) North Infirmary would often have been disturbed from their slumber by the bells' vibrations (lessened in modern times by improvements in placement). But it is the clocks on the sides of the church tower that have most engaged Corkonians over the years who jokingly called them the Four Liars as it was reckoned that the four clocks never agreed on the time! Not that I've heard that joke recently! The "Goldie Fish" mounted high on the church has entered the local literature and indeed Shandon comes up regularly in the songs and poems of the city. Fr Prout's nostalgic lines below are probably the most famous "With deep affection and recollection, I oft times think of those Shandon Bells" Nowadays, after your visit to the church, where you can get to ring the bells and enjoy the view over the city, you may take a rest on the seats in the adjoining St Anne's Park before walking back down to the city centre.

Playing "Fernando" and "Here comes the sun" while pulling on some heavy ropes is a very fun…read moreactivity. Living right under the bell tower for one year and half and having to endure the other false notes is a completely other story. The entrance is expensive and the climbing quite dangerous. The view is cool.

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHURCH The church on Shanakiel Road…read morelooks like many others but what distinguishes it is the language in which the mass is conducted: Latin. Our Lady of the Rosary Church, part of the Society of St Pius X (founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre) in Ireland, holds its 11.00am Sunday mass in the traditional Latin. Tel: 021 4399242 Web: http://ireland.sspx.net/

ST FINBARR'S SOUTH The church in Dunbar Street, St Finbarr's…read more(South), is a fairly austere building. Then, I suppose, if I'd been around since 1766, I'd be looking fairly austere too! It is the oldest catholic church in use in the city and the plain Georgian building is better known as the South Chapel and is built with limestone and red sandstone. St. Finbarr's (South) Church is the oldest Catholic Church in use in Cork City (since 1766). Inside, you may see its most famous feature, John Hogan's fine carving in Carrara marble of the Dead Christ. Hogan, born in Tallow, made three versions of the scene. If you are from this area and wish to trace your ancestors then you are in luck as records of baptism and marriages celebrated in this church from second half of the 18th century are computerised. Visitors welcome or try the Internet: http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/