French Church

The French Church is a medieval church ruin in Waterford built originally as a Franciscan friary and located near Greyfriars and Baileys New Street. The structure retains its heavy stone walls and a roughly 25-meter bell tower built in the late 1400s.

The building was founded in 1241 by Anglo-Norman knight Sir Hugh Purcell as a Franciscan friary and later received King Richard II during his military campaign in Ireland in 1394. Its religious role changed after the Reformation brought new religious conditions to the island.

The building takes its name from French Huguenots who used the choir space from the 1600s onward while working in the local linen business. This French connection remains part of how people know and identify the place today.

The site is freely accessible and the original architectural features are still visible, including a monument to Luke Wadding at the entrance. The best time to visit is during daylight hours so you can fully see the stone details and the tower.

The bells that once hung in this tower were sold by Henry VIII in 1541 and can now be found in the nearby Christchurch Cathedral. This separation reveals how religious objects were scattered during religious changes of that era.

Location: Waterford

GPS coordinates: 52.26050,-7.10659

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:25