Knowing that there are many who organise their holidays around visits to cathedrals and monastic sites, whether for reasons of historical, architectural or religious interest – or simply as a focus for route planning to ancient towns and cities, Irish Ferries is reminding motorists that there are many impressive places to see within easy driving distance of its ports on both sides of the Irish Sea.
On the Irish side, there are many of historical interest, not least St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin after whose former Dean Jonathan Swift, clergyman and author of Gulliver’s Travels, the company’s fast ferry is named. Another is Christchurch Cathedral that stands imposingly on the edge of Dublin’s oldest district, The Liberties.
Within an easy drive of Dublin is the town of Longford where St Mel’s Cathedral is a ‘must-visit’ destination for everyone who would marvel at the superb craftsmanship employed in its restoration after it had been burnt to the ground in a devastating fire on Christmas Day, 2009.
In the southeast, Kilkenny’s ancient St Canice’s Cathedral, with its Round Tower, and Waterford’s twin cathedrals, Most Holy Trinity and Christ Church, are all within an easy drive of Rosslare.
This situation is replicated on the UK side where the countryside is dotted with historic and majestic edifices. Not far from Holyhead is Chester Cathedral and the comparatively modern Roman Catholic and Church of England cathedrals in Liverpool, buildings of architectural note that are in complete contrast to each other in terms of size and design. (Pictured above is Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral, a building of cultural and architectural significance.)
Not far from Pembroke, in the Pembrokeshire village of St David’s near Haverfordwest, is St David’s Cathedral, founded in AD 589 whose medieval artifacts can be viewed on the Gothic Past archive of Trinity College Dublin.
Dermot Merrigan, Irish Ferries Head of Passenger Sales, said: “The tranquility of a holiday centered around visits to cathedrals is one that offers variety and the chance to visit some of our most ancient cities, towns and settlements. Travelling by car, one has the freedom and time to linger and explore their historic, cultural and architectural significance in a leisurely manner that few other holiday arrangements can offer.”
