Sacred Heart Jesuit Church, Limerick

The Sacred Heart Jesuit Church is a significant ecclesiastical site located in Limerick. The Jesuit presence in Limerick dates back to 1650 when Father David Wolfe, an Irishman who had met Saint Ignatius Loyola in Rome and came to Ireland as a Papal Nuncio, established the first Jesuit church and school in the city. Despite Father Wolfe's execution in 1588, the Jesuits maintained their connection to Limerick through the centuries.

The present church building, designed by architect William Edward Corbett, was begun in 1864 under the rectorship of Father Thomas Kelly. The church was dedicated on January 27, 1869, although it was not fully completed until later. The church's prominent location in the Crescent enhances the Georgian architectural fabric of the area.

Originally intended to be dedicated to Saint Aloysius, the church was ultimately dedicated to the Sacred Heart when it opened for public worship in 1869. The church features a beautiful and finely crafted classical interior, reputedly containing the oldest altar in Ireland. The side altar of Our Lady of Lourdes added later, was the first of its kind in Ireland.

In 1900, architect William Henry Byrne designed the church's façade, which added to its architectural distinction. Further enhancements were made in 1922 and 1938 by Patrick Joseph Sheahan, who also oversaw the painting and decoration in collaboration with the architectural firm Sheahan & Clery.

The Jesuits established Crescent College in 1859, adjacent to the church. However, the college was closed in the 1960s, and the teaching staff moved to a modern comprehensive school in the southern suburbs.