Photo of the Day: Stained-Glass Window, Irish Room, Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh (PA)

As promised in a prior post, I am now going to explore various rooms that (at least before the COVID-19 outbreak) are open to visitors at the Cathedral of Learning, an architectural marvel located on the University of Pittsburgh campus. 

Though the exterior of the building (which is, incidentally, on the National Register of Historic Places) is impressive, its interiors—especially the Nationality Rooms, intended to honor early ethnic groups in the area--are small gems unto themselves. 

The image I’ve attached is from the Irish Room—which, considering my ancestry, is a natural. Stained-glass windows, with their emphasis on storytelling, particularly appeal to me. 

What you see here is one of three scenes depicting famous teachers at the three oldest centers of learning in Ireland: St. Finnian at Clonard, “the Master of the Saints of Ireland.” (The other two windows show St. Columkille at Derry and St. Carthagh at Lismore.)