St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin
Side view of St. Mary's Neoclassical facade. Photo
Jorge Castro.
Closer look at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral. Photo licensed under GFDL.
Angel on an archbishop's tomb. Photo
Javier ie.
Location map and aerial view of St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral. For a larger interactive view, see our Dublin Map.
The two main cathedrals (Christ Church and St. Patrick's) of Dublin belong to the Protestant Church of Ireland, so St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral (meaning "acting cathedral" and known affectionately as "The Pro") is the closest the Catholics get to having their own.
History
St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral was built between 1815 and 1825 on the site of a 12th-century Cistercian Abbey of St. Mary.
St. Mary's is not an official cathedral, even though it functions as one. Why? Back when Christ Church Cathedral was built, the pope consecrated it as the Catholic cathedral of Dublin. Although Christ Church has been Protestant for centuries, no pope has ever revoked its original designation. Since a city can only have one Catholic cathedral, St. Mary's cannot enjoy that status until Christ Church's is revoked.
What to See
Tucked into a corner of a rather unimpressive back street, St. Mary's is in the heart of Dublin's north side and functions as the main Catholic parish church of the city center. The church is noted for its Palestrina Choir, which sings a Latin Mass every Sunday at 11am.
The cathedral is in the Neo-Classic Doric style, which provides a distinct contrast to the Gothic Revival look of most other churches of the period. The exterior portico is modeled on the Temple of Theseus in Athens, with six Doric columns, while the Renaissance-style interior is patterned after the Church of St. Philip de Reule of Paris.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral |
| Dedicated to: | Virgin Mary |
| Location: | Dublin, Ireland |
| Category: | Cathedrals |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | 1815-25 |
| Architecture: | Neoclassical |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 53.350867° N, 6.258962° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Cathedral and Marlborough Sts., Dublin 1, Ireland |
| Phone: | 01/874-5441 |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat-Sun 8am-7pm |
| Cost: | Free |
| Services: | Choral Mass Sundays 11am |
| Public transport: | DART: Connolly Bus: 28, 29A, 30, 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B, or 44A |
Travel Resources
- Dublin Map - our detailed interactive map of Dublin, plus hand-picked links to more
- Dublin Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Dublin
- Dublin Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Dublin Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Dublin Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Dublin Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Dublin tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral - Official Website
- Frommer's Ireland 2005
Article last updated: 07/22/2009.
