St. Mary's Church, New Ross

St. Mary's Church is a Norman-era church ruin in New Ross built during the early 13th century with characteristic architectural features of that period. Stone walls display three lancet windows in the east gable, and a modern Church of Ireland building now occupies part of the original site where the nave once stood.

William Marshal and Isabel de Clare, daughter of the Norman lord Strongbow, founded this church in 1210 as part of developing New Ross as a major settlement. The structure experienced changes over the centuries as the town and its religious role evolved.

The chancel and transepts hold carved stones from the Middle Ages that show symbols important to medieval communities, including rare examples connected to the Knights Templar. These carvings reveal how people honored their dead and expressed their beliefs during that time.

The ruins are located on Mary Street along the east bank of the River Barrow and can be easily approached from the street. A modern church building stands on the grounds, so it helps to explore the different parts of the site and not miss the crypt beneath the south section.

Below the south transept lies a medieval crypt with two chambers featuring barrel-vaulted ceilings, the only roofed section of the original structure still standing. This underground space shows how builders of that era designed spaces for specific religious and burial purposes.