Salisbury Cathedral almost two centuries. The cathedral is also the subject of William Golding's novel "The Spire" which deals with the fictional Dean Jocelin who makes the building of the spire his life's work. The construction of the cathedral is an important plot point in Edward Rutherfurd's historical novel "Sarum", which explores the historical settlement of the Salisbury area. The cathedral has been mentioned by the author Ken Follett as one of two models for the fictional Kingsbridge Cathedral in his historical novel "The Pillars of the Earth". It was also used for some external shots in the 2010 miniseries based on
St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny which was sourced locally. The cathedral has a cruciform plan and its style is described as ‘Early English Gothic’. The design is believed to have been based on Gloucester Cathedral in Gloucester, England. It is situated on the highest point in Kilkenny City and is a significant local landmark. The cathedral is variously referred to as "St Mary’s", "the church of St Kieran" and "the Cathedral of the Assumption". St. Mary’s has a noted sculpture of the Madonna by Giovanni Maria Benzoni (1809-1873). St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny St Mary’s is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory.