St Eugenes Cathedral
St Eugenes Cathedral
Considered the Mother Church of the Derry Diocese, stretching from Malin Head to Omagh, St Eugene’s Cathedral was built following the Catholic Emancipation Act of the early 1800’s on what is now Colmcille Court.
Following the laying of the foundation stone, the Cathedral took more than a quarter of a century to complete, costing a total of 40 thousand pound raised from American patrons and the local community. While funds were sporadic, the building was complete piece by piece with financial difficulties postponing the construction of the belfry, tower and spire until later years. The beautiful stained glass windows were also a late addition, having first been plain glass as funds were still incoming.
Commisioned by Bishop Francis Kelly following the relaxation of anti-Catholic legislations and designed by J.J. McCarthy (known for his church architecture as far afield as Tipperary), St Eugene’s Cathedral is one of the grandest Roman Catholic cathedrals in the Northwest, and one of the most historic. The sacred vessels used in its opening ceremony are still kept within the Cathedral to this day, and the chalice is still used today.