St. Nicholas is the largest medieval church in use in Ireland today. The early sections of the church date from 1320,
although tradition tells us that St. Nicholas was built upon the ruins of an
older structure, and part of the chancel's south wall may incorporate some of
this earlier material. The Church is dedicated to St. Nicholas, the 4th century
Archbishop of Myra. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, merchants,
sailors, scholars and virgins. St. Nicholas is known best to children the world
over as Santa Claus.
Today, the interior of the church is decorated with a host
of interesting artifacts, some ancient and some more recent. Adorning the walls
are numerous plaques dedicated to the memory of lost loved ones. Perhaps
one of the more interesting items to inhabit the church is the Crusader's
Tomb, a 13th century tomb, located in The Chapel of Christ. The
Crusader's Tomb is thought to have originated at a nearby chapel of the Knights
Templar, which was destroyed in 1324. Other parts of the church that are of
interest include the Victorian Henry Library, which contains over 4,500
finely preserved volumes, The Baptismal Font, a late 16th or early 17th century
carved stone basin that is still in use today, and the flamboyant Altar Tomb,
which features a rare figure of Christ displaying his five wounds.
Galway Cathedral
Galway Cathedral’s full name is the Catholic Cathedral of
Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas. While the exterior is not to
everyone’s taste, the interior, with its high stone arches and central dome, is
very impressive. It's constructed of fine-cut limestone from local quarries,
with Connemara marble floors. It was completed in 1965,
after 8 years of building. Contemporary Irish artisans designed the statues,
stained-glass windows, and mosaics.