Tuam and St. Mary's Cathedral, Ireland

Laura and I loved this friendly pretty little town where we stopped for lovely bagel BLT lunch before going on to Galway.  The highlight for us was visiting St. Mary’s Cathedral where the gentleman present there was so informative and clearly adoring of his church.  Church of Ireland, Anglican, it was built in 1878.   This third church was built on the site of the first  12th century cathedral incorporating the Hiberno-Romanesque Arch while the second 14th century de Burgo Cathedral became the Synod Hall and Library. This was also contains the national monument, the High Cross of Tuam.  It was erected in the 12th century by Turlough O’Connor. The Nave of O’Connor was destroyed by fire in 1184.  The de Burgo family built the second church.  The Chancel Arch from the 12th century was an architectural accomplishment of it’s day.