St Mel's Cathedral

Cathedral Church of St Mel
St Mel's Cathedral in 2019
Cathedral Church of St Mel is located in Ireland
Cathedral Church of St Mel
Cathedral Church of St Mel
LocationLongford
CountryIreland
DenominationCatholic
TraditionLatin Church
Websitelongfordparish.com
History
StatusActive
DedicationMél of Ardagh
Consecrated19 May 1893
Architecture
Functional statusCathedral
StyleNeoclassical
Years built1840–1856
Administration
ProvinceArmagh
DioceseArdagh and Clonmacnoise
ParishLongford

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,[1] Longford's "landmark building"[1][2] and "one of the finest Catholic churches in Ireland".[2] 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.

Design history

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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.[3] The roof is supported by 24 limestone columns quarried at nearby Newtowncashel.[4] 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.[3]

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.

2009 Christmas Day fire

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Nave and sanctuary, 2008

Just after 5:00 am on 25 December 2009 a fire began at the back of the building.[5][6] Freezing weather disrupted attempts by firefighters to put out the blaze as their pipes were frozen solid,[1] causing the fire to go on for several hours. At one point flames were reported jumping 18 m into the air.[3] 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,[7] describing the cathedral as "just a shell" and "burned out from end to end".[7] However, there were rescue efforts underway to try to save the campanile before it too was destroyed.[5] As a result of the fire, Longford parishioners held their Christmas Day masses in the local Temperance Hall.[5]

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".[7][8]

The estimated cost of the damage to the cathedral was approximately €30 million. Bishop O'Reilly committed to rebuilding it.[9] St Mel's Crosier, a relic dating from over a thousand years ago, was destroyed in the fire.[10]

Gardaí began examining the cathedral on 6 January 2010.[10] They determined two days later that it had not been arson.[11] 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 unfortunately 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.[12]

Mass moved from the Temperance Hall to the sports hall and chapel of St Mel's College while the cathedral was being restored.[13] Bishop O'Reilly issued a letter to his 41 parishes: "I am now writing the kind of letter that I never dreamt I would need to write. I must do so, since I wear a ring that Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich placed on my finger as a reminder that for my time as Bishop I am bound to the Diocesan family in a bond that, like marriage, is for good times and bad. I write this letter to acknowledge that we must stay together in this time of sorrow and bewilderment. I also write to bring some solace to the many who are quite truly heart-broken."[14]

Restoration

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Nave with the baptismal font at its entrance after the restoration

On 18 September 2011 the cathedral ruins were opened to the public for the first time since the devastating Christmas Day fire, with thousands of people showing up to view the cathedral.[15][16][17]

In 2012 Fine Gael TD James Bannon asked Bishop Colm O'Reilly to reconsider selecting an Italian organ maker to rebuild the organ in the cathedral.[18]

A new altar was consecrated in March 2014, and the cathedral re-opened on Christmas Eve 2014.[19] The restoration project cost €30 million.[20] Among the features of the restored cathedral are a Carrara marble altar sculpted by Tom Glendon, a silver tabernacle created by Imogen Stuart and Vicki Donovan, a pipe organ consisting of 2,307 pipes, built by Fratelli Ruffatti, and stained glass windows designed by Kim en Joong, a Dominican priest.[20]

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A silhouette image of St Mel's Cathedral features on the crest of League of Ireland club Longford Town. The cathedral is also depicted on the crest of all Co Longford GAA teams.

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  • The cathedral in the early 20th century
    The cathedral in the early 20th century
  • Interior of the cathedral in the late 19th century
    Interior of the cathedral in the late 19th century

References

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  1. ^ a b c "St. Mel's Cathedral destroyed by fire". Longford Leader. 25 December 2009. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  2. ^ a b  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Longford (town)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 981.
  3. ^ a b c "Longford's St Mel's Cathedral destroyed by fire". Irish Examiner. 25 December 2009.
  4. ^ "Things to see & do in Longford". Longford County Council. Archived from the original on 21 October 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  5. ^ a b c "Fire crews battle blaze at historic Longford Cathedral". Ireland Online. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Cathedral gutted by fire after Mass". Belfast Telegraph. 25 December 2009.
  7. ^ a b c "Longford Cathedral gutted in fire". RTÉ News. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  8. ^ "Blaze at Longford cathedral investigated". RTÉ News. 26 December 2009.
  9. ^ Don Lavery (27 December 2009). "Gutted St Mel's faces €10m bill after mystery fire". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Gardaí examine Longford cathedral ruins". RTÉ News. 6 January 2010.
  11. ^ "Gardaí rule out arson in cathedral fire probe". RTÉ News. 8 January 2010.
  12. ^ O'Reilly, Colm (16 February 2011). "St Mel's Cathedral: Hope from the ashes". Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  13. ^ "St. Mel's College provides Mass venue". Longford Leader. 8 January 2010. Archived from the original on 9 January 2010.
  14. ^ Liam Cosgrove (20 January 2010). "A new start..." Longford Leader. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012.
  15. ^ "St Mel's Cathedral opens for inspection". RTÉ News. 18 September 2011.
  16. ^ "St Mel's Cathedral Open Day". Longford Leader. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011.
  17. ^ "Thousands get look at burnt-out cathedral". Irish Independent. 19 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Plea for Irish organ for St Mel's Cathedral". RTÉ News. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  19. ^ Sarah MacDonald (25 December 2014). "'Remarkable achievement' as St Mel's bounces back". Irish Independent. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Mass to be celebrated in St Mel's for first time since 2009 fire". The Irish Times. 20 December 2014.
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