The spiritual capital of Ireland for 1,500 years and the seat of both Protestant and Catholic archbishops, Armagh is the most venerated of Irish cities. St Patrick called Armagh 'my sweet hill' and built his stone church on the hill where the Anglican cathedral now stands. On the opposite hill, the twin-spired Catholic cathedral (started in 1840) is flanked by two large marble archbishops who look mildly across town.
The present Anglican cathedral in the city is mostly a 19th century restoration of the 13th century shell and is sited on a hill in the centre of the city. The exterior of the church with its red sandstone walls is quite grim and foreboding. Even though it dominates the city, it is also suprisingly small when approached closeup. In 1834, the Archbishop, Lord John Beresford commissioned the architect Lewis Cottingham to rebuild the cathedral. Much of the medieval fabric was replaced with unconvincing Gothic revival. Thackeray admired the new building when he came this way in 1842, and he specially liked the monuments which then, as now, included ones by Roubiliac, Chantrey, Rysbrack and Nollekens. 'It wants a hundred years at least,' he said, 'to cool the raw colours of the stones, and to dull the brightness of the gilding, all which benefits, no doubt, time will bring to pass...'
Brian Boru who drove the Norsemen out of Ireland in 1014 is buried in the churchyard. A plaque near the spot is mounted in the exterior wall of the transept.
Around the Church building in early days was built one of the most celebrated of the great Irish Monastic Schools to which students came from all over Ireland.
Other features of interest inside the Cathedral are sections of an ancient Celtic cross dating from the 11th century which at one time stood on the hill to the east of the Cathedral. Also there is an ancient granite figure of an Irish Warrior believed to date back to Celtic times, known as The Tandragee Man.
It is well worth taking the time to go inside the Cathedral to look at many other features of interest, There is a charge payable for viewing the inside of the Cathedral .
THE CACHE is located just outside the Cathedral grounds. It is a small cache and when placed contained a log book and pencil.
Parking is limited close to the cathedral.