St. Nicholas's Church

This is a very interesting church with a most unusual atmosphere.

I knew from the outside that it was a protestant church when I was going in. This was reinforced by the commemoration slabs around the walls which celebrated the demise of various (clearly protestant) establishment figures over the centuries. But there was something about the atmosphere which wasn't quite right. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I didn't feel quite as distant as I would in a normal protestant church; there was a sort of familiar feeling there.

This made it all the more interesting to learn from the organist that the church had been used during 2005 to celebrate catholic mass and communion while the Augustinian church was being refurbished. He also told me that there had been some element of competition among the catholic parishioners to be the last one to receive catholic communion in this protestant church before the rite returned to its rightful abode in the Augustinian friary.

You can read about some very interesting background at wikipedia.

The authorities have a very open attitude to the public and I don't recollect seeing such a welcoming notice to photographers in any other church or public building I ever visited.

After the surrender of Galway to Cromwellian forces in 1652, many of the church's features were destroyed and the occupying forces used the church as a stable for their horses.

While going round the church I came on the organist who was tweaking his score for an upcoming performance. I don't recollect ever coming across such diligence in a catholic church unless it was a rehearsal for a posh wedding. In general the catholic hymns were not very demanding on the accompanist.

This particular organ must have been a welcome addition to the church as tradition has it that services were accompanied by two ladies on harps before the coming of the organ.

The church boasts the tomb of a crusader (eat your heart out St. Michan's).

This is from the 13th or 14th Century and may have come from the nearby chapel of the Knights Templar which was destroyed in 1324.

The inscription is in Norman French and it is decorated with an elaborate cross.

The battle standard of the Connaught Rangers is housed here. This was a regiment formed in 1793, which served in the Peninsular Wars (1804-1814). Many Irish from the West of Ireland fought and died under this banner in the First World War.	There is also a substantial pseudo celtic cross which, according to the pamphlet, commemorates parishioners "who died during the First World War (1914-1918)". I think they mean "who fell in the war", I'm sure many non-enlisted parishioners died during this period.
Of all the angels in the church this is the only one to have kept its head. Hence the smug expression. The others were decapitated by Cromwellian forces.	This cock is presumably of Norman origin. Impressive looking fowl.
You keep an eye on Heaven.	And Heaven keeps an eye on you.