“Data Privacy Notice” might not be the most captivating opening, but it hints at something vital here at St. Aidan’s Parish Church. St. Aidan’s Parish Church is more than bricks and mortar. It is a living community.
Welcome. We stand before St. Aidan’s Parish Church in Dublin. This church is a beacon. It reflects the love and mercy of God. Parishioners strive to make St. Aidan’s a place where everyone feels welcome. They should be accepted and valued.
But St. Aidan is actually elsewhere. Let me tell you about St. Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy. It is a magnificent neo-Gothic cathedral in County Wexford. Many describe it as an Irish gem. Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin designed it. He was a great English architect of the 19th century. Pugin designed iconic buildings. He designed parts of the Houses of Parliament in London.
St. Aidan’s Cathedral is monumental. It is the largest Irish building he designed. It is reputedly based on Tintern Abbey in Wales. Local stone was used in its construction. Some stone came from a ruined Franciscan Friary nearby. St. Aidan’s Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns. The cathedral is dedicated to Máedóc of Ferns. He is also known as Aidan. He died in 626. His feast day is January 31.
The first thatched cathedral in Enniscorthy was built in 1809. The Earl of Portsmouth donated the land. The town became the episcopal center of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns. Inside, Pugin’s achievements are splendid.
The Cathedral has an impressive facade. It boasts a long-aisled nave, altars, and stained glass windows. Holy images and statues adorn the interior. You can admire the Stained Glass of John the Evangelist. See the Stained Glass of St. Máedóc of Ferns also known as Aidan. A Pietà statue is here as well. The roof resembles an upturned ark.
Lobin of Tours created some stained glass panels. Mayer of Munich also contributed. Earley of Dublin created some too. White and Son of Dublin supplied the pipe organ. James Pearse and Edmund Sharpe of Dublin signed an altar.
St. Aidan’s Cathedral is open daily. Weekends are busy with masses and confessions. People come to worship. The atmosphere is peaceful and calm. It is a beautiful place to light a candle and pray.
Bishop Ger Nash was ordained in St. Aidan’s Cathedral Enniscorthy in 2021. He is the 81st Bishop of Ferns. Gerard Nash was born in County Clare. He worked in manufacturing before studying for the priesthood.
Contributing to life in St. Aidan’s Parish is a privilege. The community is happy. Much good is done. Let us rejoice in this goodness together. Remember St. Aidan’s Parish and its commitment to faith and community.