St. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick
Encyclopedia
St Mary's is a cathedral
of the Church of Ireland
in Limerick
city, Ireland
which is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is in the ecclesiastical province
of Dublin. Previously the cathedral of the Diocese of Limerick, it is now one of three cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Limerick and Killaloe
. The cathedral is open to the public throughout the week, subject to church services.
and is the oldest building in Limerick which is in daily use. It has the only complete set of misericord
s left in Ireland
.
In 1111
, the Synod of Rathbrassil decided that "St. Mary's church" would become the cathedral church of the Diocese of Limerick
. According to tradition, Donal Mor O'Brien, the last King of Munster founded the present cathedral on the site of his palace on King's Island in 1168. The palace had been built on the site of the Viking
meeting place, or "Thingmote" - the Vikings' most westerly European stronghold. This had been the centre of government in the early medieval Viking city. Parts of the palace may be incorporated into the present structure of the cathedral, most prominently the great West Door, which tradition claims was the original main entrance to the royal palace. The West Door is now only used on ceremonial occasions. The Bishops of Limerick have for centuries knocked on this door and entered by it as part of their installation ceremony. According to tradition, during the many sieges of Limerick the defenders of the City used the stones around the West Door to sharpen their swords and arrows, and the marks they made in the stonework can be seen there today.
The tower of St. Mary's Cathedral was added in the 14th century, and it rises to 120 feet.
s which hang from the ceiling. These are only lit on special occasions. The larger three of the five were made in Dublin and presented in 1759 by the Limerick Corporation. The belfry holds a peal of eight bells, six of which were presented by William Yorke, mayor of Limerick, in 1673. An active team of bell ringers travels the country to compete with other campanologists
.
St. Mary's received its organ in 1624, when Bishop Bernard Adams donated one. It has been rebuilt over the centuries, and was most recently renovated in 1968 and 2005.
During the Irish Confederacy wars, the cathedral briefly came back into Catholic hands. The Catholic Bishop, Richard Arthur, on his death in 1646, was buried in the cathedral.
In 1651
, after Oliver Cromwell
's forces captured Limerick, the Cathedral was used as a stable by the parliamentary army. This misuse was short lived, but was a similar fate to that suffered by some of the other great cathedrals during the Cromwellian campaign in Ireland. The troops also removed the Cathedral's original 13 ft Pre-Reformation high altar from the Cathedral. This altar was only reinstated in the 1960s. It is the largest such altar in Ireland and the UK
, carved from a single limestone block.
In 1691
, the Cathedral suffered considerable damage, particularly on the east end, during the Williamite
Siege of Limerick
. After the Treaty of Limerick
, William
granted £1,000 towards repairs. There are cannon balls from 1691 in the Glentworth Chapel inside.
In 1991, there was a massive £2.5 million restoration programme that completed in 1996 with the excavation and re-laying of the floors, as well as the installation of underfloor central heating. Restoration continues today to a lesser degree.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
city, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
which is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is in the ecclesiastical province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of Dublin. Previously the cathedral of the Diocese of Limerick, it is now one of three cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Limerick and Killaloe
Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe
The Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe is a diocese in the Church of Ireland, located in Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.It is one of the twelve Church of Ireland dioceses which cover the whole of Ireland...
. The cathedral is open to the public throughout the week, subject to church services.
From foundation to the Irish Reformation
Limerick Cathedral (St Mary's) is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded in 11681168 in Ireland
-Events:St. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick founded on the site of a palace donated by Donal Mor O'Brien, King of Thomond....
and is the oldest building in Limerick which is in daily use. It has the only complete set of misericord
Misericord
A misericord is a small wooden shelf on the underside of a folding seat in a church, installed to provide a degree of comfort for a person who has to stand during long periods of prayer.-Origins:...
s left in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
In 1111
1111 in Ireland
-Events:*Synod of Rathbreasail, presided over by Cellach Ua Sinaig, Abbot of Armagh is held. Ireland is divided into territorial dioceses under two metropolitans....
, the Synod of Rathbrassil decided that "St. Mary's church" would become the cathedral church of the Diocese of Limerick
Diocese of Limerick
Diocese of Limerick may refer to:*Church of Ireland Diocese of Limerick*Roman Catholic Diocese of Limerick...
. According to tradition, Donal Mor O'Brien, the last King of Munster founded the present cathedral on the site of his palace on King's Island in 1168. The palace had been built on the site of the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
meeting place, or "Thingmote" - the Vikings' most westerly European stronghold. This had been the centre of government in the early medieval Viking city. Parts of the palace may be incorporated into the present structure of the cathedral, most prominently the great West Door, which tradition claims was the original main entrance to the royal palace. The West Door is now only used on ceremonial occasions. The Bishops of Limerick have for centuries knocked on this door and entered by it as part of their installation ceremony. According to tradition, during the many sieges of Limerick the defenders of the City used the stones around the West Door to sharpen their swords and arrows, and the marks they made in the stonework can be seen there today.
The tower of St. Mary's Cathedral was added in the 14th century, and it rises to 120 feet.
From the Irish Reformation to the 19th century
There are five chandelierChandelier
A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights. Chandeliers are often ornate, containing dozens of lamps and complex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light...
s which hang from the ceiling. These are only lit on special occasions. The larger three of the five were made in Dublin and presented in 1759 by the Limerick Corporation. The belfry holds a peal of eight bells, six of which were presented by William Yorke, mayor of Limerick, in 1673. An active team of bell ringers travels the country to compete with other campanologists
Campanology
Campanology is the study of bells. It encompasses the physical realities of bells — how they are cast, tuned and sounded — as well as the various methods devised to perform bell-ringing....
.
St. Mary's received its organ in 1624, when Bishop Bernard Adams donated one. It has been rebuilt over the centuries, and was most recently renovated in 1968 and 2005.
During the Irish Confederacy wars, the cathedral briefly came back into Catholic hands. The Catholic Bishop, Richard Arthur, on his death in 1646, was buried in the cathedral.
In 1651
1651 in Ireland
-Events:*June - Re-start of the Siege of Limerick by English Parliamentarian troops under Henry Ireton.*July - Battle of Knocknaclashy. Irish force trying to relieve Limerick is routed....
, after Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's forces captured Limerick, the Cathedral was used as a stable by the parliamentary army. This misuse was short lived, but was a similar fate to that suffered by some of the other great cathedrals during the Cromwellian campaign in Ireland. The troops also removed the Cathedral's original 13 ft Pre-Reformation high altar from the Cathedral. This altar was only reinstated in the 1960s. It is the largest such altar in Ireland and the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, carved from a single limestone block.
In 1691
1691 in Ireland
-Events:*12 July - Williamite War in Ireland: Battle of Aughrim*August–October - Williamite War in Ireland: Siege of Limerick*3 October - Treaty of Limerick ends the Williamite War...
, the Cathedral suffered considerable damage, particularly on the east end, during the Williamite
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
Siege of Limerick
Siege of Limerick (1691)
Limerick in western Ireland was besieged twice during the Williamite War in Ireland . The city, held by Jacobite forces was able to beat off a Williamite assault in 1690. However, after a second siege in August-October 1691, it surrendered on terms....
. After the Treaty of Limerick
Treaty of Limerick
The Treaty of Limerick ended the Williamite war in Ireland between the Jacobites and the supporters of William of Orange. It concluded the Siege of Limerick. The treaty really consisted of two treaties which were signed on 3 October 1691. Reputedly they were signed on the Treaty Stone, an...
, William
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
granted £1,000 towards repairs. There are cannon balls from 1691 in the Glentworth Chapel inside.
From the 19th century to the 20th century
In 1968, the Irish Government commissioned a postage stamp to commemorate the Cathedral's 800 year anniversary.In 1991, there was a massive £2.5 million restoration programme that completed in 1996 with the excavation and re-laying of the floors, as well as the installation of underfloor central heating. Restoration continues today to a lesser degree.