Set against western shore of the blustering blue River Corrib, the Cathedral of our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas is the last great stone cathedral to be raised within Europe. The name is quite a mouthful so the Roman Catholic cathedral is more fondly referred to as the Galway Cathedral which slips off the tongue with much greater ease. The cathedral sits on what was once a somber prison, incarcerating the city’s felons, and is barely 50 years of age.

While the stone buttresses and turrets may seem rather typical of a cathedral, the true wonder of Galway Cathedral lies beyond its stone walls. Artful stained glass pieces and marble white statues line the main altar chamber. Light filtering through the blue tinted windows shroud the interior in an ethereal glow that accentuates the stone archways and gradations in grey tones along the walls. Typical of any cathedral, ceramic chips piece together intricate portraits, the most interesting of which features John F. Kennedy with his hands clasped together and raised towards God. Still preserving the heart and soul of Christian artistry, Galway Cathedral is a reminder that such forms of devotion and art are still very much alive in our society today.