History of New Ross

The spiritual needs of citizens were not forgotten and a great Church, St Mary's Abbey, was erected which was to become one of the largest parish churches in Ireland. St. Mary's Church (Church of Ireland) was built in 1811 on the site of the nave of the abbey. A friary was built in Friary Lane during the medieval period but no trace of it survives above ground these days. A religious run lepers' hospital was established in the Maudlins in the later Middle Ages but this has recently been removed. There are two Roman Catholic churches, both built in the 19th century. These are the parish church of St. Michael and St. Mary, and the Augustinian church.