THE anniversary celebrations at St Eunan’s Cathedral over the weekend concluded with a special three-day mission that was led by Fr Patrick Cahill.
The mission continued with a number of Masses over the weekend.
On Saturday afternoon, the Diocesan Pastoral Centre hosted a special family day, with families from parishes across the diocese gathering to enjoy the celebrations.
The festivities drew to a close with a special commemorative Mass on Sunday afternoon.
The week-long programme also included a Corpus Christi Procession, led by children who had recently received their First Holy Communion or Confirmation.
The Cathedral also hosted 40 Hours’ Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, administrator of St Eunan’s Cathedral, leads the rosary possession at the weekend.
Members of the Holy Family Mission group that attended the celebration at St Eunan’s at the weekend. Photos Brian Mc Daid.
Members of the Holy Family Mass group in St Eunan’s Cathedral at the weekend.
Groups attending the procession on Saturday evening for the 125th anniversary celebration of St Eunan’s Cathedral.
Groups from all over Ireland attended St Eunan’s Cathedral for its 125th anniversary celebrations at the weekend in Letterkenny.
Gathering at the Grotto in Loreto Secondary School for the rosary at the 125th anniversary of St Eunan’s Cathedral.
Fr Anthony Hartnett leads the procession to the grotto at the 125th anniversary of St Eunan’s Cathedral.
HISTORY
The iconic spire of St Eunan’s Cathedral can be seen from across Letterkenny and has long been one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks.
The cathedral, which is marking its 125th anniversary, was completed in the early years of the 20th century.
Just 11 years passed between the formation of the Cathedral Building Committee in 1890 by the then Bishop of Raphoe, later Cardinal O’Donnell, and the dedication and opening of the cathedral in 1901. A statue of Cardinal O’Donnell stands to the left of the cathedral’s main porch.
Designed by William Hague F.R.I.A. of Dublin, the cathedral was built using white Mountcharles stone.
The building contractor during the first five years of construction was James McClay of Strabane, while the carving work was carried out by Messrs Purdy and Millard of Belfast.
Because of geological features at the site, it was not possible to orient the church in the traditional manner, with the altar at the east end.
The cathedral measures 171 feet in length and 100 feet across the transepts, while the roof rises to a height of 72 feet and the spire reaches a staggering 240 feet.
Major restoration work carried out in 1985, at a cost of half a million pounds, stands as testimony to the continuity of faith and devotion that has sustained the cathedral through the generations.
More recently, the landmark building closed for five weeks last August to facilitate a programme of refurbishment works.
During this period, the cathedral was repainted and the restoration of its historic sanctuary lamp was completed.
While the work was ongoing, parishioners attended Masses and ceremonies at the nearby Church of the Irish Martyrs.
The refurbishment programme also included electrical works, with fittings checked and renewed where necessary.
Lighting was upgraded to highlight key features of the altar area. Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, Diocesan Administrator, assisted with the positioning of the sanctuary lights.
One of the most significant elements of the project was the reinstallation of the cathedral’s impressive sanctuary lamp, which was first installed in 1901.
The lamp was donated by Glenties woman Catherine MacDevitt in memory of her husband, Daniel.
Following its restoration, it once again shines as brightly as it did when it was first presented to the cathedral more than a century ago.