The Island of Lismore lies near the south end of Loch Linnhe, and at a short distance from the mainland of Argyleshire. In 1236 the See of the Bishopric of Argyle was transferred from Mackairn, on the south side of Loch Etive, to Lismore, where a Columban monastery had been founded by St. Moluoc at an early period. The cathedral was probably erected soon after the transference of the see in the thirteenth century. It is said to have been a structure 137 feet in length by 29⅓ feet in width. Of this pile there now only survives a single quadrilateral chamber, without aisles, used as the parish church, and measuring internally 51 feet in length by 23 feet 6 inches in width (Fig. 667). It has four buttresses of simple form against the south wall, and two at each of the north and south angles of the east wall. The walls and buttresses are entirely covered with rough casting. There is a doorway near the centre of the south wall (Fig. 668) which has had a nook shaft on each side, and a round arched head with a water table, but its details are destroyed. In the interior the arched head is segmental, and the label has bold first pointed terminals (Fig. 669). There has also been a sharply pointed doorway in the north wall (Fig. 670)--now built up--which retains in the interior a label moulding with head terminations, one being the head of a bishop. [Illustration: FIG. 667.--Lismore Cathedral. Plan.] [Illustration: FIG. 668.--Lismore Cathedral. View from South-East.] In the south wall, and in the usual position near the east end, there are remains of a triple sedilia, much damaged, but having shafts between the seats, with moulded caps (Fig. 671). There is also a piscina in a pointed recess, having a trefoil headed niche in the wall behind, all much damaged (see Fig. 671). [Illustration: FIG. 669.--Lismore Cathedral. Interior Terminal of South Doorway.] [Illustration: FIG. 670.--Lismore Cathedral. North Doorway.] In the exterior of the north wall, and near the buttress at the east end, there has been an ambry. This ambry, together with the absence of buttresses on the north side, seems to indicate that there was a building on that side, probably in the form of an aisle, connected with the cathedral. The eastmost portion was probably the sacristy, which would enter by the north doorway. On the south side of the church the wall, with its buttresses (see Fig. 668), has evidently been the exterior of the church. It contains a segmental headed modern window in each bay. The south buttress of the east wall is widened at the lower part, and contains a round arched recess, in which there has probably been a monument. The east end has been greatly altered, and has had a staircase block built against it, and a gallery door and high window inserted. [Illustration: FIG. 671.--Lismore Cathedral. Piscina and Cap of Shafts of Sedilia.]