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| PROTESTANT CATHEDRAL, ARMAGH.- The Protestants of Ireland perpetuate the memory of the great apostle of their country, St. Patrick, in many of their sacred edifices, but, more particularly, at Dublin and Armagh, where, it is claimed, their fine cathedrals - taken in former times by force from the vanquished Catholics - stands upon sites where once stood the original temples founded by the patron saint himself. It makes little matter now how the buildings were originally obtained, the Catholics of Ireland have long since acquiesced in the change and have erected edifices more magnificent, if less ancient, to take their places. The Catholic cathedral, dealt with in another sketch, is also called St. Patrick's. The shell of the ancient cathedral pictured above, was begun, according to good authority, in 1268, but was not finished for a long time thereafter and it was almost entirely consumed by fire during the Elizabethan wars. The late Prime Beresford restored the interior, and repaired the exterior of the edifice, assisted by Mr. Cottingham and English architect, who, in some details, departed needlessly from the original plans. The building is cruciform, and a massive but rather ungraceful, tower rises from the intersection. The interior finish is magnificent. |
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