HONOURING OUR PAST, SECURING OUR FUTURE

Saint Muredach’s Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Killala in the West of Ireland. It is located on the banks of the River Moy in Ballina, County Mayo and is the most recognisable landmark in the town. The Cathedral’s construction was initiated by Bishop John McHale who served as Bishop of Killala from 1825 to 1834, before his appointment as Archbishop of Tuam. Work on the Cathedral began in 1827, with the foundation stone being laid on the 24th of May that year. In 2027, God willing, this beautiful Cathedral will celebrate its bi-centenary.

Over the past twenty-five years, major renovations have been undertaken both inside and outside the Cathedral. It is hoped to complete this work in the coming years in the lead-in to the bi-centenary celebration. The first project in this final phase of work is to safeguard the Cathedral’s beautiful stained glass windows.

Work recommenced in early 2022 with the restoration of the Cathedral’s stained glass windows. The two transept windows were completely restored in 2022 and 2023. 

Restoration of the eight windows along the main aisle was completed in November 2024.  The windows either side of the two transept windows and the Tower Door were completed in 2025. New storm glazing to all the windows was completed in 2026. The Main Sanctuary Window will be restored and fitted with new storm glazing in Spring of 2027.

Work is been carried out by Sheridan Stained Glass Creations Ltd., Newtown, Kells, County Kilkenny. Phase 3 will have cost €1.2m to complete in full.

Work was carried out on some of the Cathedral windows in the late 1990s as part of the refurbishment work undertaken at the Cathedral before the turn of the millennium, and consequently the work needing to be carried out on these windows now involves minimum re-leading with an emphasis on necessary stone repairs and repointing in situ. However, a number of the windows were not repaired at that time because of budgetary constraints, and these need to be conserved and restored (involving significant re-leading) as part of this project. The work to be carried out now will also involve the removal of all of the existing storm glazing which is no longer considered to be giving adequate protection to these very valuable stained glass windows, and replacement with new and better protective glazing. The current glazing is fitted close to the stained glass with little ventilation allowed for. The putty which seals the glass to the reveals is cracked and allowing water to penetrate. The necessary repairs to the stained glass and the replacement of some of the timber frames will take place on-site, along with the necessary stone repairs and repointing around the windows. It is envisaged that the two large transept windows will need to be removed for more extensive and delicate required works to be carried out at a work studio.

The stained glass windows in Saint Muredach’s Cathedral are among its richest heritage and are virtually irreplaceable. With the exception of four smaller windows, all of the stained glass windows in Saint Muredach’s Cathedral have originated from Franz Mayer & Company of Munich, Germany, a company established in 1848. Their value is now incalculable because the Mayer Studios in Munich with their details of designs, records, installations and techniques were completely destroyed by Allied bombers in World War Two.

The Cathedral windows feature many of the Irish saints including the national patron Patrick, and Muredach the patron saint of Killala diocese. The Sanctuary Window in the East Gable behind the altar depicts Saint Muredach, Saint Dympna, Saint Asicus, and Saint Colmcille. Second row: Saint Lawrence O’ Toole, Saint Patrick, Saint Bridget, and Saint Kevin. At the top of the window there are the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. A window in the right (Ardnaree) Nave depicts Saint Anthony, Saint Catherine, Saint John, and Saint Michael. Some of the side windows depict scenes from the Gospels: the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary, the birth of the baby Jesus, the sisters Martha and Mary, and the Ascension to mention just a few. These beautiful windows, with their strong colours and vivid themes, add hugely to the Cathedral’s prayerful ambiance as the changing light provides a wonderful display of changing patterns.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOR TEXT

Brendan Hoban, Kilmoremoy Parish (2009)
Jim McGuire, Steeple & People. The Story of Ballina and Its Cathedral (1991)