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St Mel's Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of St Mel is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, located in the town of Longford in Ireland. Built between 1840 and 1856, with the belfry and portico as later additions, it has been considered the "flagship cathedral" of the Irish midlands region, Longford's "landmark building" and "one of the finest Catholic churches in Ireland". The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Mél (died 488), who came to Ireland with Saint Patrick and who was ordained bishop at Ardagh, County Longford.
On Christmas Day 2009, the cathedral was destroyed by a fire in the early hours of the morning. The restored cathedral re-opened in December 2014.
The cathedral is a Neoclassical stone building, at the north-east side of the town. Construction began in 1840 to the design of Joseph B. Keane, with the foundation stone (taken from the ruined cathedral in nearby Ardagh) laid by the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, William O'Higgins, on 19 May 1840. Work was then delayed by the arrival of the Great Famine, but the church was opened for worship by O'Higgins's successor, Rt. Rev. John Kilduff, on 29 September 1856. The roof is supported by 24 limestone columns quarried at nearby Newtowncashel. The 1860 belfry was designed by John Bourke, and the 1889 portico was designed by George Ashlin. The cathedral was finally consecrated on 19 May 1893.
Harry Clarke studios designed the stained glass windows in the transepts. Ray Carroll designed the 1975 furnishings including "The Second Coming" tapestry behind the bishop's throne. Imogen Stuart designed "The Holy Ghost" above the baptismal font. The tapestry was produced by Donegal Carpets of Killybegs.
Just after 5:00 am on 25 December 2009 a fire began at the back of the building. Freezing weather disrupted attempts by firefighters to put out the blaze as their pipes were frozen solid, causing the fire to go on for several hours. At one point flames were reported jumping 18 m into the air. According to Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Colm O'Reilly, who had celebrated Midnight Mass in the building hours before the fire began, St Mel's Cathedral was completely destroyed by the fire, describing the cathedral as "just a shell" and "burned out from end to end". However, there were rescue efforts underway to try to save the campanile before it too was destroyed. As a result of the fire, Longford parishioners held their Christmas Day masses in the local Temperance Hall.
Initial investigations into the cause of the blaze were hampered by the precarious state of the building; the Gardaí conducted house-to-house inquiries in what a spokesman described as a "routine inquiry".
The estimated cost of the damage to the cathedral was approximately €30 million. Bishop O'Reilly committed to rebuilding it. St. Mel's Crozier, a relic dating from over a thousand years ago, was destroyed in the fire.
Gardaí began examining the cathedral on 6 January 2010. They determined two days later that it had not been arson. A comprehensive investigation was undertaken by Gardaí and insurance forensic experts into the cause of the fire. It was established that the outbreak first arose in an old chimney flue at the rear of the cathedral and broke out into the sacristy through old inspection hatches located behind fitted units. It was concluded that the fire was entirely accidental in origin and could not have been foreseen.
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St Mel's Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of St Mel is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, located in the town of Longford in Ireland. Built between 1840 and 1856, with the belfry and portico as later additions, it has been considered the "flagship cathedral" of the Irish midlands region, Longford's "landmark building" and "one of the finest Catholic churches in Ireland". The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Mél (died 488), who came to Ireland with Saint Patrick and who was ordained bishop at Ardagh, County Longford.
On Christmas Day 2009, the cathedral was destroyed by a fire in the early hours of the morning. The restored cathedral re-opened in December 2014.
The cathedral is a Neoclassical stone building, at the north-east side of the town. Construction began in 1840 to the design of Joseph B. Keane, with the foundation stone (taken from the ruined cathedral in nearby Ardagh) laid by the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, William O'Higgins, on 19 May 1840. Work was then delayed by the arrival of the Great Famine, but the church was opened for worship by O'Higgins's successor, Rt. Rev. John Kilduff, on 29 September 1856. The roof is supported by 24 limestone columns quarried at nearby Newtowncashel. The 1860 belfry was designed by John Bourke, and the 1889 portico was designed by George Ashlin. The cathedral was finally consecrated on 19 May 1893.
Harry Clarke studios designed the stained glass windows in the transepts. Ray Carroll designed the 1975 furnishings including "The Second Coming" tapestry behind the bishop's throne. Imogen Stuart designed "The Holy Ghost" above the baptismal font. The tapestry was produced by Donegal Carpets of Killybegs.
Just after 5:00 am on 25 December 2009 a fire began at the back of the building. Freezing weather disrupted attempts by firefighters to put out the blaze as their pipes were frozen solid, causing the fire to go on for several hours. At one point flames were reported jumping 18 m into the air. According to Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Colm O'Reilly, who had celebrated Midnight Mass in the building hours before the fire began, St Mel's Cathedral was completely destroyed by the fire, describing the cathedral as "just a shell" and "burned out from end to end". However, there were rescue efforts underway to try to save the campanile before it too was destroyed. As a result of the fire, Longford parishioners held their Christmas Day masses in the local Temperance Hall.
Initial investigations into the cause of the blaze were hampered by the precarious state of the building; the Gardaí conducted house-to-house inquiries in what a spokesman described as a "routine inquiry".
The estimated cost of the damage to the cathedral was approximately €30 million. Bishop O'Reilly committed to rebuilding it. St. Mel's Crozier, a relic dating from over a thousand years ago, was destroyed in the fire.
Gardaí began examining the cathedral on 6 January 2010. They determined two days later that it had not been arson. A comprehensive investigation was undertaken by Gardaí and insurance forensic experts into the cause of the fire. It was established that the outbreak first arose in an old chimney flue at the rear of the cathedral and broke out into the sacristy through old inspection hatches located behind fitted units. It was concluded that the fire was entirely accidental in origin and could not have been foreseen.