| St Mary’s Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | |
 | |
 | |
| 52°39′09″N 07°15′25″W / 52.65250°N 7.25694°W | |
| Location | County Kilkenny |
| Country | Republic of Ireland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | February 1842 |
| Consecrated | 4 October 1857 |
| Relics held | St Victoria Saint Clement Saints Cosmas and Damian[1] |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | April 1843 |
| Completed | 1857 |
| Construction cost | £25,000 |
| Administration | |
| Province | Dublin |
| Diocese | Diocese of Ossory |
St Mary's Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory. It is situated on James's Street, Kilkenny, Ireland.
Saint Mary's was designed by William Deane Butler (c.1794-1857). He was chosen by Bishop William Kinsella (1793-1845) who instigated the building of St. Mary's in February 1842. Work began in April 1843 and finished in 1857. On Sunday 4 October 1857, St. Mary's had its grand opening, which consisted of a two-and-three-quarter hour ceremony that began at 6.15am. The cost of the building is estimated to have been £25,000.
St. Mary's is made from cut-limestone which was sourced locally. The cathedral has a cruciform plan and its style is described as ‘Early English Gothic’.[2] The design is believed to have been based on Gloucester Cathedral in Gloucester, England. It is situated on the highest point in Kilkenny City and is a significant local landmark.
Its bell in the steeple was made by John Murphy, a Dublin foundry.[3]
St. Mary's has a noted sculpture of the Madonna by Giovanni Maria Benzoni (1809-1873).