Cathedral of Saint Mel in Ardagh
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| Cathedral of Saint Mel | |
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.jpg) Cathedral of Saint Mel in Ardagh | |
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| General information | |
| Coordinates | 53°40′06″N 7°41′42″W / 53.6683°N 7.69492°W |
The Cathedral of Saint Mell is the name given to the ruins of a small, Early Medieval church in the village of Ardagh, County Longford in Ireland, not to be confused with St Mel's Cathedral in the town of Longford. Church reform in the 12th century made Saint Mel's Cathedral in Ardagh the centre of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, demonstrating the importance of the site as a Cathedral and bishopric see.[1] Although known as Saint Mel's Cathedral, the ruined church dates from three centuries after the saint's death, and predates the introduction of a diocesan system in Ireland.[2]
According to tradition, a monastery was founded at Ardagh by St. Patrick, who made his nephew, St. Mél of Ardagh its bishop or abbot. Although there is no historical or archaeological evidence to support such a claim, St. Mel is still generally regarded as the founder of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. The building was severely damaged in the midst of warfare in A.D. 1496 and was never restored.[2]
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