St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Drogheda, Gothic Catholic church in Drogheda, Ireland

St. Peter's Church is a Catholic church on West Street in Drogheda, built of local limestone ashlar in the French Gothic style to designs by John O'Neill and William Henry Byrne in 1884. Its tall west gable carries a rose window above a recessed arched doorway with carved relief panels, and a spired tower with a statue niche stands to the left. Inside, clustered columns with carved capitals support pointed arches, and a ribbed vault painted with dark red bands and floral motifs covers the nave.

Drogheda's Catholic chapel stood outside the Westgate because Penal Laws barred chapels within the town walls. A lease on West Street was secured through the wealthy Catholic Mr. Chester. Archbishop Richard O'Reilly laid the foundation stone, but the mayor and corporation arrived with the mace and sword to warn that a "Popish Chapel" would not be tolerated; Sir Edward Bellew of Barmeath Castle persuaded them to withdraw. The first church, designed by Francis Johnston, was completed in 1793 at a cost of about £12,000.

St Oliver Plunkett was martyred at Tyburn in 1681, and the Irish Catholic bishops' conference has designated the shrine holding his preserved head a national shrine. A second display case shows his shoulder blade and other bones, and signs ask visitors to keep silence because the church remains a working place of worship.

The building is generally open to visitors during daytime hours, with the best time to explore being outside of service times. It is helpful to note information plaques throughout the space that explain the artwork and history of the location.

The shrine holds Plunkett's preserved head, displayed with his shoulder blade and other bones; nearby is the cell door of Newgate prison, where he spent his last days before being martyred at Tyburn in 1681.