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The Cathedral Church of St Colman, usually known as Cobh Cathedral, was built by Edward Welby Pugin and his pupil George Ashlin. It overlooks Cork harbour from a prominent position. Construction began in 1868 and was not completed until over half a century later due to increases in costs and revisions of the original plans. After Pugin's death in 1875 Ashlin continued the project.
Built in the neo-Gothic style over the course of 47 years, the cathedral finally opened in 1911. Its structure features a 100m-high spire and a tower that contains a 42-bell carillon, the largest in Ireland. It is modelled on three French cathedrals: Chartres, Amiens and Reims, which were all built in the 12th century.
The church is dedicated to Saint Colman of Lindisfarne (c. 605-676) who was an important prelate of the early Irish church and monastic founder. He led the Celtic party at the crucial Synod of Whitby (663-664), held by the church of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria to decide whether to follow Celtic or Roman usages.
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