Kilfenora Cathedral

Kilfenora Cathedral
St. Fachtnan's Cathedral
Kilfenora Cathedral. The northern transept is on the left, with the glass roof installed in 2005 to conserve the high crosses
Kilfenora Cathedral Location in Ireland
52°59′24″N 9°12′36″W / 52.99000°N 9.21000°W / 52.99000; -9.21000Coordinates: 52°59′24″N 9°12′36″W / 52.99000°N 9.21000°W / 52.99000; -9.21000
Location	Kilfenora, County Clare
Country	Ireland
Denomination	Church of Ireland
Previous denomination	Roman Catholic

Kilfenora Cathedral is a former Roman Catholic cathedral, part of which is now used as a place of worship by the Church of Ireland. It is located in the village of Kilfenora, in the region known as the Burren, County Clare, Ireland. In medieval times it was the episcopal see of the Bishop of Kilfenora.

According to tradition, the ecclesial presence at Kilfenora began with Saint Fachanan, who founded a church here in the 6th century. The first building was probably made of wood and followed by a stone construction. That church was burned down in 1055 by Murchad O'Brien. It was rebuilt between 1056 and 1058, only to be plundered in 1079 and then destroyed by an accidental fire in 1100.

In 1152, the Synod of Kells changed the status of the ecclesial settlement here from monastic to diocesan. The diocese corresponded with the ancient territory of Corcomroe.

Kilfenora Cathedral is dedicated to St. Fachtna (also St. Fachanan or St. Fachtnan) and the present structure dates to between 1189 and 1200. It was built in the so-called transitional style with a nave and a chancel. These were later separated and by 1839, "thirty-six feet of the east end" were roofless.

Part of the Archdiocese of Cashel, the diocese only extended over 200 square miles of very thinly populated land. It was reckoned the poorest diocese, with only 13 parishes. Demand for the position of bishop thus was not great, but for 1189 a bishop is recorded. In 1661 Samuel Pullen was made Archbishop of Tuam and Kilfenora became part of his province.

The last Bishop of Kilfenora in the succession of the Roman Catholic Church was James Augustine O'Daly (d. 1749). In 1750, the diocese was united with Kilmacduagh. In 1883 "Kilfenora and Kilmacduagh" was again merged with the diocese of Galway. Today, the bishops of Galway and Kilmacduagh are styled "Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora"; while the bishop administers the diocese, in Canon Law, the ordinary of the diocese is the Pope.