Jump to content

Saint Michael's Catholic Church (Limerick)

Add links
Coordinates: 52°39′50″N 8°37′26″W / 52.66392°N 8.623965°W / 52.66392; -8.623965
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saint Michael's Catholic Church
Church of Saint Michael
Eaglaís Naomh Micheál[1]
Exterior walls and tower
Saint Michael's Catholic Church is located in Ireland
Saint Michael's Catholic Church
Saint Michael's Catholic Church
52°39′50″N 8°37′26″W / 52.66392°N 8.623965°W / 52.66392; -8.623965
LocationDenmark Street, Limerick
CountryIreland
Language(s)English, Polish
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitewww.limerickdiocese.org/pastoral-units-and-parishes/pastoral-unit-1/st-michaels/
History
StatusIn use
DedicationSaint Michael
ConsecratedAugust 1874
Architecture
Architect(s)Martin Morris
Architectural typeChurch
StyleItalianate, Romanesque Revival
Groundbreaking1779
Completed1781
Construction cost£7,400 (1881 rebuilding)[2]
Administration
ProvinceCashel and Emly
DioceseLimerick
DeaneryPastoral Unit 1
ParishSaint Michael's
Interior

Saints Michael's Catholic Church is an 18th-century Catholic church located on Chapel Lane in Limerick, Ireland.

It should not be confused with St Michael's Church, a Church of Ireland building on Pery Square.[3]

History

[edit]

The Anglo-Normans built the first church in Limerick dedicated to Michael the Archangel, which stood on an island between Englishtown and Irishtown, in an area outside the city gates.

Saint Michael's is first referred to in the 1205 "Black Book of Limerick". It was originally a prebendal church, but by 1418 was attached to the Archdeaconry of Limerick.[4]

Saint Michael's is one of the five original parishes of Limerick City. It was a joint parish of Saint John's until 1704 when Father Murtagh O'Hehir became the first Catholic parish priest of the new parish.[5][6]

The church was built in 1779–81 and remodelled in 1805. It was a rebuilding of a penal-era chapel, demolished after the 1651 siege.[7] The Arthur family donated the land for the original church, which now forms part of the south transept.[5] A bell was added in 1815 and an organ in 1816.[8] The church was rebuilt in 1881 to a design by Martin Morris in an Italianate style with Romanesque Revival features.[9] Daniel O'Connell addressed political meetings in St Michael's.[7] St Michael's also saw the 1916 funeral of the controversial Mayor of Limerick John Daly, and that of Seán South in 1957.[10][11]

The church has a weekly Mass in Polish, for the Polish immigrant community.[12]

Architecture

[edit]

The church is a limestone building on a T-shaped plan with a slate roof.

There are two stone fonts dating to c. 1720, one depicting either Mary holding Jesus, or Elizabeth holding John the Baptist; and the other showing Saint Michael. A gilt statue of Saint Michael vanquishing Satan is on top of the building.

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Aifreann Cuímhneacháin (Commemorative Mass)". 16 January 2018.
  2. ^ Slater, Sharon (14 May 2010). "FIRST COMMUNION IN ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH DENMARK STREET 1978". Limerick's Life.
  3. ^ Slater, Sharon (23 September 2004). "St. Michael's Church - Church of Ireland • Churches".
  4. ^ Comerford, Patrick. "Saint Michael's Church: part of the story of mediaeval Limerick".
  5. ^ a b "Saint Michael's Catholic Church, Denmark Street, Robert Street, Limerick, LIMERICK". Buildings of Ireland.
  6. ^ "Limerick Diocesan Heritage Project - St Michael's Parish". www.limerickdioceseheritage.org.
  7. ^ a b Slater, Sharon (23 December 2004). "ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH – ROMAN CATHOLIC". Limerick's Life.
  8. ^ a b Lenihan, M. (1866:679–680). Limerick: Its History and Antiquities.... Ireland: Hodges, Smith.
  9. ^ "Limerick Diocesan Heritage Project -St Michael's Parish". www.limerickdioceseheritage.org.
  10. ^ Moloney, T. (2010:91). Limerick Constitutional Nationalism, 1898-1918: Change and Continuity. United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publisher.
  11. ^ Kelly, S. (2013). Fianna Fail, Partition and Northern Ireland,1926-1971. Ireland: Original Writing.
  12. ^ "St Michael's". www.limerickdiocese.org.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Michael%27s_Catholic_Church_(Limerick)&oldid=1213393221"