This church was built between 1200 and 1220 by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. It was built with the purpose to act as a parish church for the New Town of Ross, and it was probably the largest parish church built in Ireland in the 13th century.
It consists of a nave and a chancel, and two transepts each having two chapels projecting eastwards. The south transept was built in the second half of the 13th century. Where the two transpets intersect the chancel there was a tower, but it fell in 1763.
In the church there are some of the finest Gothic architectural sculptures in all Ireland, especially in the east windows, and many interesting slabs. One of these slabs commemorates Isabel de Clare, William's Marshall wife, who was buried in Wales.
In the 19th century a Protestant church was built on the site of the nave.
The building is perfectly aligned to the cardinal points.
Unfortunately the gates of the cathedral were locked on the day of our visit, so we had to take the photos of the inside through the bars of the gates.
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