New book documents 70 years of Cathedral history

Due for release next month, "Beneath Cathedral Towers" is the title of an eagerly awaited book which documents the history of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar.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 substantial history, which features a series of articles and a plethora 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."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," Danny Dunne told the Westmeath Examiner.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."The book will deal with the history of the Cathedral, the construction of it, and the interaction that the people of Mullingar have had with it over the years," Danny Dunne continued.The compendium of articles and photographs will give readers a visual history of the events surrounding the Cathedral since 1900, such as the Irish premiere of Edward Elgar's musical masterpiece, "The Dream of Gerontius" in 1958; the Cathedral's Golden Jubilee in 1989, and the Millennium celebrations.It will also recount the history of the Cathedral Museum, its treasures and mosaics; and stories about the people, priests, choirs, choristers and servers who have walked its floors.The book's concept came about as efforts were made to digitise photographs for the Mullingar Parish Archives, which are held at Cathedral House."We were in the process of compiling a digital archive of photos related to the Cathedral, so we could store them on computer to keep in the parish archives," said Mr. Dunne."It was at that point that the idea for the book came."Contributors to "Beneath Cathedral Towers" have drawn heavily from the parish archives, which include material from the Loreto, Presentation, Christian Brothers and Mercy orders, as well as the parish and the diocese.While no specific release date for the book has been announced, it is due to hit the shelves early in December - making it the perfect Christmas gift for friends and relatives living abroad.