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.

[citation needed] In 1867, parishioners collectively gave £10,000 towards the construction of the cathedral, and Puglin & Ashlin's draft plans were accepted in December that same year.

[9] After construction had begun, and the walls had reached a height of 3.5m, Bishop Keane, unsatisfied with the proposed cathedral, advised that he preferred a more elaborate design.

[citation needed] Pugin & Ashlin adjusted their plans, and added flying buttresses, traceried parapets, arcading, niches, and more.

[9]When Pugin died in 1875, Ashlin took on the services of a Dublin architect, Thomas Aloysius Coleman, to assist him in the completion of the project.

[9] Work on the interior began in 1893, and included cladding the walls with Bath and Portland stone, and sheeting the roof with vaults of pitch pine.

[9] The building was completed in 1919 for a total cost of £235,000, far exceeding the original limit, and making it one of the most expensive churches ever built in Ireland.

The cathedral was consecrated on 24 August 1919 by the Right Reverend Robert Browne, Bishop of Cloyne, in the presence of three of Ireland's archbishops Michael Logue, John Harty and Thomas Gilmartin.

[10] Both the west front and the transepts hold rose windows set in high pointed arches which are flanked by octagonal turrets.

[15] An automated system strikes the hour and 15-minute intervals while it also rings the bells in appropriate form for Masses, funerals, weddings and events.

The carillon is also played on special occasions and generally every Sunday afternoon by its current carillonneur Adrian Gebruers.