Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Felim — Farnham Street

Freestanding Latin-cross plan five-bay double-height cathedral in monumental neo-Classical style, built 1939-1942, with Corinthian prostyle tetrastyle pedimented portico, four-stage tower and octagonal spire flanked by cupolas. Seven-bay nave with single-storey aisles, two bay transepts with single-storey side chapels and dome over crossing, apses with half cupolas to ends of transepts and narthex, advanced side entrances to side aisles adjoining transepts, seven-bay single-storey sacristy wing to west having recessed central bay with lantern rooflight. Square-plan four-stage tower of Wicklow granite ashlar and Portland stone, rusticated at first stage with niches in breakfront to each face having statue of Blessed Virgin Mary to front, oculi with margents to each face at second stage with corners surmounted by urns, octagonal-plan third stage with louvred round-arched belfry openings to each face with festoon decoration and engaged Corinthian columns to corners supporting entablature, fourth stage as attic storey with oculi between scrolled buttresses surmounted by spire with bronze cross. Pitched copper roofs behind parapet blocking course, flat roofs to aisles and side chapels. Copper mansard roofs to outer bays of vestry with flat roof around copper-clad flat-roofed multiple-pane lantern light. Copper domes over crossing, side chapels, apses and flanking steeple. Cast-iron rainwater downpipes and hopper heads. Wicklow granite ashlar walls with Portland stone detailing. Five-bay front elevation with central pediment having cross to apex, modillion cornices, tympanum with high-relief sculptural group of Christ with SS Patrick and Felim to either side, frieze reading 'D.O.M. SUB INVOC. S. PATRIT. ET. S. FEDLIM. A.D. MCMXLII'. Portland stone Corinthian columns to portico, responding giant-order pilasters framing outer bays with paired end pilasters. Centrally positioned limestone doorcase composed of square-headed door with architrave, keystone and cornice with semi-circular fanlight in archivolt, central oculus at upper level, door flanked by apsoidal niches with square headed windows within recesses over, plaques between storeys, with coat-of arms to central plaque. Side elevations having frieze with paterae and margents over Doric pilasters flanking round-arched windows in alternate recessed bays having concave reveals, panelled aprons and floral festoons on either side of rock-faced keystone, moulded string course at impost. Square-headed openings with raised keystone to clerestory, square-headed door opening and semi-circular fanlight to side entrance porch. Pedimented transepts with pilasters and impost course taken around semi-circular apse. Single-storey sacristy to rear with parapet over cornice and central doorcase in blocked architrave with keystone. Interior in manner of Roman basilica with compartmented plasterwork ceiling of round panels, clerestory window in architraves over entablature on Corinthian columns of Pavonazzetto marble. Sanctuary extending into crossing with stucco coffered dome over, top-lit side chapels to either side of altar, separated from chancel and side aisles by Corinthian columns of Pavonazzetto marble with black marble pedestals. High altar of green Connemara and pink Middleton marble raised on plinth. Row of twelve stained-glass windows each representing an apostle to bowed apse behind altar over mural of the Risen Christ surrounded by native saints by George Collie (1904-1975). Stations of the Cross also by Collie, six stained-glass windows to nave, window in south transept from the studios of Harry Clarke. Main portico approached by wide granite steps in two flights with ironwork handrails in serpentine form. Square-plan granite piers and wide paved approach in geometric pattern divided by two flights of granite steps.