St John’s Church Tralee

St John’s Church Tralee

The charming St John the Baptist church is located in the centre of Tralee town. It was built in the mid-1800s. The building itself is located at the end of Edward Street, you could miss it because of the tall buildings that surround it even though it has an extremely high spire.

The church bells are on a timer and go off in the morning, at noon, and evening time. Also, the bells call people to mass. They go off 10 minutes before a mass begins.

Upon entering the church, you are greeted by large marble angels holding blessed water. The roof is held up by massive stone-clad columns. On the ceiling, there are wooden fans.

There is a canopy over the altar, which sits on a luscious cream carpet, that truly is a sight to behold. The carpentry is superb throughout the church. Paintings inside the church by Sean Keating symbolize the stations of the cross.

Inside, just over the front door of the church there is a big organ. It was built in Germany in 1909, by Edward and George Stahlhut, and reassembled in the church. In 1981 Kenneth Jones refurbished and restored the organ to its former splendid glory.

So, if you are visiting Tralee, I highly recommend you go into St. John’s Church and light a candle and take in its glorious architecture.

When was St John’s Church Tralee built?

In 1854 the first foundation was laid on the site of a chapel dating back to 1780. Some artefacts from the chapel in 1780 remain in the church today. J.J. McCarthy designed the church and it was completed in 1861.

At the back of the church is the Great Sanctuary Window designed by Michael O’Connor. The stained-glass window depicts Christ the King, St John the Baptist, the 12 Apostles, the Holy Spirit, and 9 singing angels. The window is considered among the finest in Europe.

The sphere of the church was completed in 1870 and is 200 feet or 60 m high. In 1950, a major renovation was carried out with a 30-foot extension to the Nave. It was completed in 1960.

Most recently, an electric door has been put into the church that makes it easier for older people and people in a wheelchair to enter the church.

What is the parking situation at St John’s Church?

When you are going to visit St John’s church Tralee there is little free parking. At the main door, there are three disabled parking spaces. The other disabled parking spot is to the right halfway down the outside of the church.

Also, on the right of the church, there are a further 13 parking spaces. Around the back of the church are 10 more spaces approximately. There is no parking charge in the church car park.

However please be aware that the urban district council spaces operate a car park right-hand side of the church which is not free. You have to pay for parking here and there are about 100 spaces.

It is however very easy to distinguish between the two car parks because there is a stone wall separating them. You should not park there if there is a wedding or funeral being held at the church.

Now there is a short-cut through the church car park to the town park. There is a little graveyard between the church car park and the town park.

Mostly parish priests and Deans have been buried there. I would highly recommend you go through the car park to see the rose garden where the Rose of Tralee takes her pictures the morning after she is selected.

What are the mass, confession and baptisms times in St John’s church?

What is St John’s Parish Centre address, opening times, telephone number, and email address?

What can you do in St. John’s Church Parish Centre?

You can book your baptisms, communion, confirmation, and burials there. Accord uses the parish centre. Also, you can get signed mass cards there.

You can buy religious items and books in the centre. One book I saw when I was visiting there explained all the stained-glass windows in St. John’s Church.

What does Accord do?

The main purpose of Accord is to prepare people for marriage. But other services they provide are to help you.

What days are the pre-marriage course on in Tralee?

You have two options

How much does the pre-marriage course in accord cost?

€190 per couple

What is Accord’s telephone number?

Check out my web pages on the Ring of Kerry Drive, The Skellig Ring and Slea Head Drive.