St. Mary's and St. George's Churches, Carrick-on-Shannon.

We now retrace our steps to the Town Clock and Main Street. St. Mary's Catholic Church is on our left. This fine edifice which is in the Gothic style was designed by W.H. Hague, a distinguished Dublin architect and was dedicated on 19th October, 1879. The church is enhanced by its position on elevated ground and the flights of stone steps leading to it. Fr. Thomas Fitzgerald, the priest responsible for its construction is buried within the chancel in front of the Blessed Sacrament Altar.

St. George's Church, which stands uphill to the left of Main St. at the top of St. Mary's Close, is the Church of Ireland parish Church. Prior to 1698 the parish church was situated at Kiltoghert. In that year it was transferred to its present site in Carrick. It was re-built in 1829 and the interior reconstructed in the years 1910-1914. Rev. W.A. Percy who was Rector from 1869 to 1886 was grandfather of the famous song writer Percy French.

We now come back down St. Mary's Close and further on up Main St. "The Priest's Lane" was the old name for the road at the Swan Bar leading to St. Patrick's Park. This was where the Catholic clergy first lived after the relaxation of the Penal Laws. It is also reputed to have been the home of Turlough O'Carolan, the harpist and composer when he came to Carrick as a boy with his family from Nobler, Co. Meath in 1684.