‘Peace Doves’ community art project reaches milestone in Kilkenny
For eight weeks from September 10, visitors will enjoy 360-degree views of the dove installation
ONE of Kilkenny’s oldest medieval buildings, the 13th-century St Canice’s Cathedral, is inviting visitors to take part in a special community art installation throughout the summer.
The Cathedral has reached a significant milestone in the Peace Doves project, having gathered 5,000 personal messages of hope written on handcrafted paper doves that will become part of a much larger shared experience.
By September, the artwork will feature over 10,000 handwritten Peace Doves carrying messages of hope, suspended together in a stunning display that cascades above the cathedral crossing.
Dean of Ossory, the Very Reverend Stephen Farrell, says, “Saint Canice’s Cathedral has stood for 800 years. It has always been a place where the people of Kilkenny have come to express their hopes, even the wishes they cannot find the words for. Peace Doves will help to articulate the longings and hopes of our community.
“There is a long tradition in churches of lighting a candle, the flame continuing to offer our prayer after we have moved on. These doves are in the same tradition. Each message of peace will continue to resonate around this ancient space, each dove representing a voice calling for peace between peoples.”
Peace Doves is the vision of internationally renowned British sculptor Peter Walker, whose work is well-known across the UK and Europe. With Peace Doves, he brings this powerful artwork to Ireland for the very first time.
For eight weeks from September 10, visitors will enjoy 360-degree views of the dove installation, accompanied by original music composed by David Harper. St Canice’s Cathedral will host a series of evening concerts to accompany the Peace Dove artwork.
Rev Farrell explains, “I know that once these thousands and thousands of doves are installed in September, they will look mesmerising in this beautiful space, but more than that, spending time with them will help us to look up, beyond ourselves, and encourage us to seek harmony, peace and understanding.”
St Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower is consistently listed among Kilkenny's top three attractions. It welcomed over 60,000 guests in 2025. For more information about St Canice’s Cathedral, the Peace Dove art project or its series of summer events, visit www.stcanicescathedral.ie.