St. Nicholas of Myra

On a site steeped in devotion and echoing with centuries of faith, stands St. Nicholas of Myra. This isn’t the first church to grace this spot on Francis Street. Imagine a humble wooden chapel, erected way back in the 12th century. That chapel eventually gave way to a sturdier structure, a stone church and Franciscan monastery, built after the Franciscan order arrived in Ireland in 1233. This marked the beginning of a long relationship between the Franciscan order and this site which would eventually lend its name to the street on which the church stands. Sadly, like many religious houses during Henry VIII’s reign, the stone church was destroyed around the 1540s. The Franciscans, however, were not deterred. They reacquired the land in the 17th century and began rebuilding. The church we see today, St. Nicholas of Myra, rose from those efforts, becoming a beacon for the Catholic community. Designed by John Leeson and later enhanced by Patrick Byrne, it boasts a striking Greek Revival style. Look up and notice the grand ionic portico, the impressive bell tower, and the elegant cupola. This is a testament to a community’s enduring faith, a faith that weathered storms of history to create this beautiful space of worship.