St. Mo Chutu mac Fínaill, also known as St. Carthach, arrived here with his monks in 635, only two years before his death, established a monastery and founded the town of Lismore. Throughout the 8th and 9th century this monastery was known as the University of Lismore and monks from all over Europe came here to study.
Vikings attacked the place several times in 812 and eventually the wooden church was destroyed. The only remains from that time are the memorial stones that today we can see set into the West Wall of the Cathedral.
New buildings were built on the site of the wooden one during the 12th and 13th centuries, but they were also destroyed.
In 1633 Sir Richard Boyle, owner of Lismore Castle, had the chancel rebuilt, but the rest of the Cathedral wasn't repaired until 1660's because of the presence of Oliver Cromwell's troops in the area.
In the early 19th century Sir Richard Morrison, architect, had the chancel rebuilt and reconstructed the windows in neo-gothic style. He also added fine ornaments on the ceiling.
The last addition to the Cathedral is the spire erected in 1827 by the Pain Brothers.
In the west section of the church, along with the memorial stones, is the McGrath Tomb from the 16th century, finely decorated with figures of the Twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the Four Evangelists, St. Carthach, St. Catherine and St. Patrick on the side panels, and an effigy of Pope Gregory the Great, the resurrection of Christ and other religious symbols on the covering slab.
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