| The Cathedral of Saint Mary Blessed Virgin has had a long and eventful history. It was founded in 1168 on the site of a palace donated by Donal Mor O'Brien King of Munster. Experts believe that parts of the palace are incorporated into the present structure of the Cathedral. The most prominent is the West Door which tradition has it was the main entrance to the palace. The palace had been built on the site of the Viking meeting house. This had been the centre of government in the early medieval Viking city. Limerick Cathedral continues to make histroy to find out more Click here.The Cathedral has seen many changes as the city expanded around it and it remains today the oldest and most historic building in Limerick. No trip to the City is complete without visiting this historic building at the very heart of this ancient metropolis. Late 19th and early 20th century photographs of the of the Cathedral are available, click here for Interior Photographs and here for Exterior Photographs. |
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| The ancient West Door of the cathedral is only used now on ceremonial occasions. The Bishops of Limerick (including our current Bishop Trevor Russell Williams ) have for centuries knocked on this door and enter by it as part of their installation ceremony. In keeping with the City Motto translated as " An ancient City well versed in the art of War". Legend has it that in the past the doorway had a more military purpose. During the many sieges of Limerick the defenders of the City used the stones around the door to sharpen their swords. They say, the marks they made in the stonework can be seen there to this day. In the 1651 after Cromwell's forces captured the City the Cathedral was used as a stable by the parliamentary army. Thankfully this misuse of such a wonderful building was short lived, but was a similar fate to that suffered by some of the other great Cathedrals during the Cromwellian campaign in Ireland. Click here for 1690 Map of the the city. |
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On the right we have a picture of the entrance porch into the Cathedral, a look at the stone work and the size of the windows indicate how old the structure is. The entrance is still reached by a cobbled path as it has been for centuries. Some of the beautiful gothic stained glass windows can be seen above and to the right of the entrance. Each
generation have added to and developed the Cathedral to make it the
wonderful place it is today. Over the last number of years a large amount
of effort and resources have been spent to restore the building. Our
aim is that we might pass it on to our children and future citizen's
of this ancient and noble City, to enjoy and treasure as we do. Click
here for a nineteenth century view from the Cathedral tower
down the river Shannon toward Sarsfield's Bridge and a view of the Cathedral
tower, Limerick Castle and Old Thomond Bridge. |
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While the Cathedral is a beautiful and historic building, it is still used today for its original purpose, as a place of worship and prayer. The historic setting only adds to the wonderful atmosphere as the the people of Limerick continue to worship God today in its ancient and hollowed confines. If the stones of this Cathedral could only talk and tell us what has happened here over the centuries, what a story they would tell. It would include the exploits of Kings and Princes, feasts and famines, military victories and defeats and Civic triumphs and disasters. It would also tell of a love and worship of God from countless generations of Limerick people which this building stands in testament to. With God's help it will continue do so for another millennium and more.
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The View of the Cathedral from Bridge Street |
