St Mary’s Cathedral is Limerick’s main religious building. Built in honor of the Virgin Mary in 1168, it was commissioned by the last king of Munster, Donal Mor O’Brien. Now considered the oldest building in the city, it welcomes hundreds of worshippers every week to celebrate religious events.
From the very first year of its foundation, St Mary’s Cathedral officially served as the diocese of the Limerick region, and became one of the highest cultural and religious centers of the Viking era. The cathedral tower wasn’t added until the 14th century, with a belfry featuring an 8-bell carillon, giving the city the joy of hearing bells ringing for miles around.
It was in 1651, after Oliver Cromwell’s siege in 1651, that the cathedral was taken over by the British parliamentary army, to the dismay of the city’s inhabitants. This lasted only for a short time, until the British troops finally withdrew from Limerick.
The cathedral suffered extensive damage in 1691, following the siege of William of Limerick. When the battle came to an end, William conceded £1,000 to renovate it.
Since 1991, a major restoration campaign has been underway at the cathedral. The floors were renewed, and an underfloor central heating system was also installed. Today, restoration continues to a lesser degree.
Located on King’s Island, close to King John’s Castle, St Mary’s Cathedral is open to visitors and worshippers alike, who come to attend mass or other religious ceremonies. A visit to the cathedral will plunge you into a world more than 800 years old, where you can admire the beauty of its nave, as well as its 12th-century altar, considered to be one of the most imposing in Ireland (carved from a single block, it has a most impressive span!).
And don’t miss the beauty of its stained glass windows, whose light subtly pierces the surrounding darkness. You can also make out 5 chandeliers hanging on either side of the nave: these are only lit on special occasions. One last thing: it’s customary in Ireland to take a few photos, provided you make a small donation to the cathedral… So it’s up to you to decide whether you fancy it…
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