St. Eugene's Cathedral

St Eugene’s Cathedral stands in Derry, Northern Ireland, on a corner where Francis Street meets Creggan Street. It is the principal church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry and the parish church of Templemore. The building is a clear example of simple neo-Gothic design by the architect James Joseph McCarthy. Construction began in 1849 and cost just over £40,000, raised in Derry, the rest of Ireland and America. The cathedral opened in 1873 under Bishop Francis Kelly, though its spire and bell tower were added later. The cathedral’s interior has been reorganised several times, most notably after the Second Vatican Council. Temporary wooden altars gave way in 1989 to a permanent sanctuary of Sardinian granite and Carrara marble. A new lectern, celebrant’s chair and tabernacle were installed, along with a lighting scheme to brighten the space. The original 1904 reredos remains, and a new porch now holds oak statues of eight saints. In 2015 the cathedral underwent further repairs for moisture damage and unsafe staircases. Visitors enter through a refurbished porch where eight oak saints greet them. A stone statue of Saint Eugene is set into the bell tower, and words from Isaiah are engraved on the wall. Inside, the marble sanctuary and granite floor are lit by a new scheme. The cathedral has hosted national broadcasts and a Holy Door for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. It remains a place where large congregations gather for major services and tributes.