Religious site

French Church, Waterford

Check tickets & tours

Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.

The French Church, also known as the Church of the Holy Ghost, is a fascinating historical site tucked away in Waterford's Viking Triangle. Originally a 13th-century Franciscan friary, it was granted to French Huguenot refugees in the late 17th century, who used it for their own Protestant services. Today, the church stands as a roofless ruin, its stone walls and arched windows open to the sky. Visitors can walk through the nave and chancel, imagining the centuries of worship that took place here. Informational panels explain the Huguenot story and the building's evolution. The site is atmospheric and evocative, a quiet corner of the city that speaks to Waterford's diverse religious history.

Don't miss

  • Explore the atmospheric ruins of the medieval friary
  • Read the informational panels about the Huguenot community
  • See the surviving stone arches and window frames
  • Photograph the roofless nave with its open sky
  • Combine with a visit to nearby medieval attractions in the Viking Triangle

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit French Church, Waterford

You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.

More attractions in Waterford

Planning your trip to Waterford? See where to eat, more attractions, or build a Waterford itinerary.