St. Michael’s Church has a long and storied history, with its original location outside the walls of Limerick, on what is now a street off St. James’s Street, running parallel to Michael Street.
Historical Significance
St. Michael’s is one of the five original parishes of Limerick City. The Down Survey of the 1650s describes the area as desolate, noting:
“a partly ruined castle and mill seat at Beall na Corrie (Ballinacurra); a few thatched cabins; the Priors mill near the churchyard and a few gardens belonging to the vicar and Archdeacon and some city gentlemen.”
The original medieval church was dismantled after the Cromwellian Siege of 1651 and was in ruins by 1654. Today, only the graveyard of the original St. Michael’s remains.
New Beginnings
In 1779, construction began on a new St. Michael’s Church, which opened on Denmark Street on September 29, 1801. The church was enlarged in 1805 and served more than just religious functions; it was a platform for Irish politician Daniel O’Connell, who used it for some of his rallies.
The Golden Angel
The original building was replaced in 1881 by the current structure, notable for the golden angel on top. Designed by Limerick architect Martin Morris, this new church reflects Morris’s architectural prowess, as seen in his other work, St. Mary’s Church in Cahir, County Tipperary, completed in 1888.
Communion in the church
Here you can see a video of a communion ceremony which took place at St Michael’s Church in 1978
