Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King — Bishop's Gate Street

Freestanding Roman basilica-style Roman Catholic Cathedral on a complicated regular plan, built between 1932 and 1936. Comprises seven-bay nave with clerestory over and flanking single-storey side aisles (east and west), full-height transepts terminated by pediments (east and west), a broad apsidal chancel to rear (north) and a circular drum with copper dome over at the central crossing. Central two-storey block with pedimented breakfront with colonnades/loggias at both first and second floor levels to entrance front (west), flanked by single-storey blocks to east and west supporting four-storey arcaded campanile towers crowned with limestone domes with gilded cross finials over. Pitched roofs. Constructed of channelled ashlar granite with extensive ashlar limestone and ashlar granite detailing. Sculpture to pediment (tympanum) in Portland stone by Albert Power, depicting Christ the King, and a number of sculpted panels by H. Thompson of Dublin to front façade above main entrances. Variety of window openings, mostly square-headed with metal glazing bars and cut stone surrounds. Ground floor window openings to nave set in round-headed recesses. Main square-headed entrance with timber panelled double-doors, with segmental-headed window over, to centre of south façade, set behind Venetian-type arrangement of central round-headed arch flanked by lower square-headed openings (divided by Doric columns in antis). Main entrance flanked by square-headed doorcases with timber double-doors with segmental-headed overlights above, set in square-headed recesses with Doric columns supporting cornice over. Museum to interior (rear/northeast) with an extensive collection of artefacts relating to the history of the Roman Catholic community in the Mullingar area. Interesting open interior with numerous columns in various types of marble (including colonnades formed of paired Doric columns in Rochambeau marble, separated by high round-headed arches, giving access to side aisles and to transepts), an extensive collection of marble altar goods and a number of bronze fittings and railings. Seven individual chapels to the interior; a number of these are adorned by mosaics by the Russian artist Boris Anrep. Cathedral is set back from the road in extensive mature grounds with Cathedral House (15310162), the Bishop's Residence, to the northeast and a large forecourt/car park to front (south). Ashlar granite gate piers on square-plan, with cast-iron double-gates and cast-iron railings over ashlar granite plinth wall to main entrance (south). Located in a prominent position to the north side of Mullingar Town centre.