St Eunan’s Cathedral (/ˈjuːnən/ YOO-nən), or the Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba as it is also known, is a cathedral in the parish of Conwal and Leck, part of the Diocese of Raphoe. Built between the years of 1890 and 1900, the cathedral is found in Letterkenny, County Donegal in Ireland. There are two Catholic cathedrals in the county; an older Catholic cathedral of the same name is found in the town of Raphoe.
The cathedral was commissioned by Cardinal O’Donnell – then Bishop of Raphoe – and who, in 1888 aged 32, became the youngest bishop in the world at that time. The cathedral, located on Castle Street opposite Conwal Parish Church in the town, celebrated its centenary in 2001.
Clergy
As of January 2019, St Eunan’s Cathedral is served by three full-time priests – The Very Reverend Monsignor Kevin Gillespie (Administrator), The Reverend Philip Kemmy (curate) and The Reverend Damien Nejad (curate). Bishop of Raphoe Most Reverend Alan McGuckian SJ, along with other clergy and retired clergy living in Letterkenny, also help the cathedral parish when required.
Adoration Chapel
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Adoration or the Adoration Chapel (as it is more commonly known) is found on the grounds of the adjacent Loreto Convent. Bishop of Raphoe Séamus Hegarty officially opened it on 4 December 1988. This single-room chapel is a reconstructed building based on the site of an old school set up by the Loreto Sisters. It is not definitively known when the original building was constructed; however, during reconstruction work in 1988, a slate bearing a mason’s mark from the year 1850 was discovered. Barry Feely from County Roscommon designed the chapel’s granite altar; this is situated in front of a stained glass window which displays the “Virgin of the Sign” icon.
The Adoration Chapel is open from 1 pm on a Sunday afternoon until 8.30 pm Friday evening. The chapel is located in the grounds of the Loreto Convent and College, which is located adjacent to the cathedral.
Devotions are held in the cathedral on the Sundays of May and October at 7.30pm.
