St. Laserian’s Cathedral

St. Laserian’s Cathedral

St. Laserian’s Trail covers the mid-Carlow area, featuring a number of sites of national significance including the medieval  Cathedral at Old Leighlin as well as the impressive Adelaide Memorial Church at Myshall. Enjoy discovering these ancient  sites, tucked away in green valleys or up high on open countryside surrounded by an expanse of sky. Perhaps a moment of  quiet contemplation will provide insights into the secrets and mysteries contained within.

St. Laserian, sometimes called Molaise, was the founder of the See of Leighlin and its first bishop. He was born about the year  566. He studied in Rome and was sent to preach the word of God in Ireland. In fulfillment of this mission, Laserian visited  many parts of Ireland including Leighlin.

St. Laserian’s Cathedral features architecture from every century since it was built.The stone interior of this beautifully preserved church is illuminated by large Gothic style windows and a magnificent stained glass window behind the altar. One of the glories of the cathedral is the intricate ribbed vault of the crossing tower. The beautifully carved sedilia reflect the cathedral status of this building. This is one of the few churches in Ireland that has four seats, rather than the usual three. It is suggested that the fourth seat was for the Bishop. Cathedrals normally provided a special chair for the bishop but Old Leighlin may have just provided a place on the sedilia.

Did You Know…

The date on which Easter is celebrated has always been a cause of difficulty and disagreement throughout Christian history. The main Latin churches throughout Western Europe used the Roman system of prediction. In the seven th century the less accurate Celtic system was in use in Ireland.

This caused unnecessary dissent and St. Laserian overcame the problem persuading the Irish Bishops gathered in the Synod of 630 to adopt the Roman system.

This was no mean feat given the Irish  church’s tradition of independence in thinking and practice but it greatly helped in unifying the church. This achievement was confirmed for the Western Church at the Synod of Whitby in 664 A.D

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• St. Columbanus, Myshall
• Relic of St. Willibrord, Carlow Cathedral
• St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Rathvilly
• Carlow County Museum
• Trail of the Saint’s – Google Maps
• About the Project
• Carlow Cathedral
• Carlow College
• Church of Ireland church
• Catholic Church of the Holy Rosary
• Old Leighlin – Seanleithghlinn
• St. Laserian’s Cathedral
• The holy well
• Leighlinbridge – Leithghlinn an Droichid
• Wells medieval parish church
• Dunleckny – Dún Leicne – Fort of the Hill Side
• Agha – Achadh – Field of the green tillage
• Agha Church
• Church of Ireland church
• Newtown – An Baile Nua
• St. Patrick’s Church
• Myshall – Míseal – Low Plain
• Romanesque church
• Catholic Church of Exaltation of the Holy Cross
• St. Brigid’s Well
• Adelaide Memorial Church
• Cranavane – Crann an Bháinin
• Holy Well at Cranavane
• Ballykealey – Baile Uí Chaollaí – O’ Kealy’s town
• Quaker graveyard and Lecky family graveyard
• Ballybrommell – Baile an Bhromailigh
• Quaker burial ground
• Nurney – An Urnaí – The Oratory
• St. John’s Church of Ireland Church
• Borris – An Bhuiríos – Burgage Land
• Borris House
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church
• The Catholic Girls’ School
• Ballinkillin – Baile an Chillín
• St. Laserian’s Catholic Church
• Lorum – Leamhdhroim – Ridge or Long Hill of the Mallows
• Church of Ireland church
• Ballinree – Baile an Fhraoigh – Town of the Heath
• Templemoling Cemetery
• Killoughternane – Cill Uchtarnáin – Church of Fortiarnán (Fortchern)
• St. Fortiarnán’s church
• St. Fortiarnán’s Holy Well
• St. Mullins – Tigh Moling – The House of Moling
• St. Mullins – ecclesiastical ruins
• St. Mullins – Holy Well
• Templenabo – Teampall na mBó – Church of the cow
• Graiguenamanagh – Gráig na Manach – The grange of the Monks
• Duiske Abbey
• Ullard – Iolard – Apple Garden
• Church and high cross
• Carlow’s churches
• Carlow’s convents
• Killeshin – Cill Uisean – the church of Uisean
• Romanesque Doorway
• Killeshin Catholic Church
• Ballinabranagh – Baile na mBreatnach
• St. Fintan’s Catholic Church
• Tinryland – Tigh an Raoilinn
• St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
• Kellistown – Cill Asna – St. Osnadh’s church
• Tullow – An Tulach – The Hill
• St. Columba’s Church of Ireland church
• Clonmore – Cluain Mhór – Great Meadow
• Bennekerry – Binn an Choire – Hill of the Sheep