For over 700 years, St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church has stood tall in the heart of Galway City. Spanning centuries of a beautiful, enriching and sometimes bloody history, a walk throughout the church is truly like walking a timeline of Galway’s past. Described as a treasure trove of history, this tour is an essential experience when in Galway.
St. Nicholas’ Church, while also a place of worship for many, is open to all for guided and self guided audio tours throughout the building.
The church was officially established in 1320, and there are remains that are still standing that can be dated as far back as the 1200s. Founded by the Normans, the church was built when Galway was only a new and small town. Throughout the next couple of centuries the church underwent renovations, additions and changes that made it the breathtaking medieval pillar of history and faith we see today.
Throughout the tours, you’re walking through a visual timeline of the significant events that happened in Galway. These tours vividly demonstrate the incredible span and depth of Galway’s history. In many ways, the history of Galway is so intertwined with the history of St. Nicholas’ Church. This building is considered to be a microcosm of Galway by many.
Inside through the arched red doors, St. Nicholas’ Church is a magnificently hallowed building. Stained glass windows bring a cascade of colour and light across the rooms. The recently uncovered stonewalls reveal how the church would have looked to parishioners as far back as the 1500s. There are still the remnants of angel icons who were defaced by Cromwellian troops in the 1600s. Only one angel remains unscathed, and was fittingly dubbed the name of the ‘smug angel’.
The bell tower is also included in some church tours. You are invited to climb the winding stairs to the top of the church, to a stone room with two pews and a hauntingly beautiful ambiance. The mechanism to ring the bells is sat at the front of the room, where trained bell ringers arrange and emit beautiful songs that ring across Galway City. The bells themselves were recast in 1935, and still to this day carry the inscription of their original form.
With its vibrant and living history, St. Nicholas’ Church is still a thriving centre for story and study today. We were only able to touch briefly on the immense and incredible history of the church, so be sure to experience the astounding historical tour yourself!
This season, join St. Nicholas’ Church for a spectacular Christmas Fair on the 23rd November. There will be second hand books, handmade crafts, mulled wine and carol singers, all taking place inside the Church. On Christmas Eve there will be an incredible service with a full choir singing beautiful Christmas songs - you won't want to miss it!
Historians for the church encourage everyone to step inside, and get a glimpse into what Galway once was, and in many ways is still today. More than a place of worship and sacrament, visiting St. Nicholas’ Church is an opportunity to transport yourself back to where it all began. Buy tickets in person at the welcome desk or through their website at www.stnicholas.ie
All photos courtesy of Ciarán MacChoncarraige
