A new book that documents the history of Mullingar Cathedral is due out for release next month. The book, entitled “Beneath Cathedral Towers," tells the 70-year story of the history of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar since 1936, whose twin towers are one of the town’s major landmarks.
The book, which has gone to press in recent days, has been produced to mark the seventieth anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral.
This history, which features a number of articles and a series of photos from twentieth century Mullingar, is a collaborative effort, steered by a Mullingar parish committee including Fr. Michael Kilmartin (CC, Mullingar), Fr. Paul Connell (St. Finian's College, Mullingar), historian Ruth Illingworth, and local man Danny Dunne.
The project has also been assisted by Most Rev. Dr. Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, as well as past and present priests in Mullingar.
Speaking to this week’s Westmeath Examiner, local historian Danny Dunne said, "It's a parish initiative, and it will look at the history of the Cathedral since 1900, when Bishop Gaffney published a pastoral letter stating the need for a cathedral in Mullingar"
Then Bishop of Meath Matthew Gaffney, who was re-interred on the Cathedral grounds recently, was the initial driving force behind plans to build the Diocese's main house of worship in Mullingar.
Fundraising began almost immediately after his pastoral letter was published, and planning began in 1920.
But it was only when Bishop Thomas Mulvany was appointed to the Episcopal See in 1929, that plans were fast-tracked.
The foundation stone was laid in 1933, after a row of houses facing Mary Street, and the original Church of the Immaculate Conception (built in 1836) were demolished.
Designed by William Byrne and Sons architects, Dublin, to be basilican in form and renaissance in style, the Cathedral features trademark twin towers, and a seating capacity of 5,000.
The entire building project cost approximately £275,000. It was dedicated on September 3, 1936, and consecrated on 3 September 1939 - the same day as the outbreak of war in Europe.
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