# Exterior view [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [PUGIN, Edward Welby]() - Date: 1851-1900 - Technique: Photo ## Commentary The Cathedral Church of St Colman, usually known as Cobh Cathedral, was built by Edward Welby Pugin and his pupil George Ashlin. It overlooks Cork harbour from a prominent position. Construction began in 1868 and was not completed until over half a century later due to increases in costs and revisions of the original plans. After Pugin's death in 1875 Ashlin continued the project. Built in the neo-Gothic style over the course of 47 years, the cathedral finally opened in 1911. Its structure features a 100m-high spire and a tower that contains a 42-bell carillon, the largest in Ireland. It is modelled on three French cathedrals: Chartres, Amiens and Reims, which were all built in the 12th century. The church is dedicated to Saint Colman of Lindisfarne \(c. 605-676\) who was an important prelate of the early Irish church and monastic founder. He led the Celtic party at the crucial Synod of Whitby \(663-664\), held by the church of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria to decide whether to follow Celtic or Roman usages. ## Related artworks - [Exterior view]() - [Exterior view]() - [Interior view]() - [Interior view]() - [Interior view]() - [Interior view]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()