St. Patricks Church is located just off Georges
Street, and is the oldest church building in Waterford,
the present structure dating from 1750, making it the
oldest Catholic church in Ireland since the Protestant
Reformation.
St. Patricks was built during a time when the
Catholic Church in Ireland experienced a most
severe persecution. It was during this period
that the Penal Laws were enforced, making it very
difficult for Catholics to practice their
religion, indeed almost impossible to take part
in the Mass and receive the Sacraments.
Prior
to the erection of the present building, Fr.
Edmond Everard is recorded as ministering in St.
Patrick’s in 1704, to be succeeded by Fr.
John Higgins S.J. until 1732. The Parochial
Register from this period still survives. Edmund
Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers often
visited St. Patrick’s Church. In 1790 Dean
Hearn built a school attached to St.
Patrick’s. This was run by the Brothers from
1815 to 1952.
St. Patricks Church still holds masses,
which take place at 8:30am during the week
and 10:30am on Sundays. St. Patricks
Church still exists thanks to the
faithfulness, worship and dedication of past
generations.
Picture, left : The
Georges Street Entrance to St. Patricks Church.
Picture, above right
: Inside St. Patricks Church.
