Saint Munchin's Catholic Church, Limerick

Saint Munchin was the first Bishop of Limerick in the 6th century, now the patron saint of Limerick City. Saint Munchin is said to have belonged to the ancient Dalcassian Clan. He is also credited with the founding of Limerick on land donated by King Ferdomnach of the Dalcassian. St. Munchin's feast day is observed on January 2nd by most believers.

Saint Munchin's was the first cathedral of Limerick, built in 561. Bishop Munchin is supposed to have been buried in the churchyard. The first church was burned down by bumptious, invading Danes. A layer of ash under the current church, erected in 1922 on the bones of a St. Munchin's built in 1744, supports this theory.

The present St. Munchin's Catholic Church, built in 1921, is located on Clancy Strand's boardwalk near the Treaty Stone. It is made to a cruciform plan with an octagonal belfry, a gabled transept, and a five-sided apse. It has a gabled slate roof and a staged gable parapet. Rose windows are set in limestone ashlar surrounds. The main entrance tympanum has Celtic motifs.

The interior nave has galleried transepts and a five-sided apsidal chancel. Arcades have granite columns and granite colonnettes. The roof is a barrel vault. There are many commemorative plaques and statuary. The architect of the present structure was Joseph O'Malley. Outside the church is a full-size Crucifixion scene.