New Amenities at St Colman’s Cathedral, Cloyne

At the Confirmation Service in Cloyne Cathedral on June 16^th Bishop Colton officially dedicated new facilities and amenities. This work is the culmination of many years of hard work, planning and careful budgeting. Enormous credit is due to Dean Alan Marley and the Re.v Tony Murphy as well as to James Bourke, Architect, and Hearthstone who carried out the work. There will be Community opening event towards the end of the summer.

Dean Green with Paul Forde and Keith Starr of Hearthstone

There has been a Christian presence on this site since the ninth Century and the present Cathedral dates to 1250, but there has never been piped water… until now. The new facilities consist of a kitchen, with access hatch, an accessible bathroom and new paving and lighting to the entranceway.

The kitchen hatch

The funding for this work has been assisted by the Priorities Fund, but ongoing funding is needed and there have been several events recently. The next will be a Summer Concert on 12 July and it will be followed in November by a Cookery Demonstration with Darina Allen.

The Paved Entrance

The wooden additions are very sensitively designed to complement the Cathedral as well as providing modern facilities. They are accessed by doors to either side of the vestibule inside the West door.

Having a kitchen and bathroom will make such a difference in the life of the Cathedral, especially in terms of it being used for concerts. and groups meeting there.

Dean Green said

The new Facilities open up the Cathedral for use by so many more groups, it is a wonderful moment in the life of this worshipping community, and one which has been the result of many years of faithful planning.

Confirmation group at Cloyne Cathedral

On Sunday as well as confirming 17 young people Bishop Colton dedicated the new facilities and had the first official cup of tea, which was presented by John Smyth ChurchWarden. Also taking part in the service were Dean Green, clergy from Cobh and Youghal Unions the Rev Andrew Orr and the Rev Paul Arbuthnot, as well as Edwin Aiken, an Ordinand on placement.