This year a representative delegation from The Wild Geese Historical Society of Czechia were led at the annual commemorative mass by the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland, Eadaoin O’Connor. This is a major annual event for the church and, in the course of the ceremony, the celebrant spoke eloquently of St Gall, and the contribution that he and the many other Irish missionaries had made to lifting the shadow of the Dark Ages which had engulfed Europe following the collapse of the Roman Empire.

Gall was a disciple and one of the traditional twelve companions of Columbanus on his mission from Ireland to the continent. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Church of Ireland. He was born c.550 and died c.646 (at the age of 95!).

The name Gall became Havel in the Czech language, and the area in which the church is situated (Havelská) was an important part of old Prague. The church was founded by King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia in 1232, and was one of Prague’s four main churches. Havelské město was united with Staré město in the 13th century and was later surrounded by the urban fortifications at Můstek.

Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, took time off from building Charles Bridge and the New Town to be crowned king of Bohemia in September 1347 at a huge regal ceremony in the church. This was the occasion of his donation of the relic of St Gall. Among the many notable pastors over the years was Jan of Nepumoc (see his statue on Charles Bridge) who  served at St Gall from 1380 to 1390. As legend has it he was hurled from the bridge to his death because he would not reveal the confessions of his Queen. He thus became a saint and is venerated throughout the Czech lands.

The church, which had been serviced by the Carmelite Order, fell victim to the religious reforms of the Emperor Joseph at the end of the 18th century (as did the Irish Franciscan Church at Hybernské náměstí), but later was reopened as an ordinary parish church. There is nothing ‘ordinary’ about this church however, and you don’t have to wait until the next visit of the Wild Geese in October 2025 to experience its wonders!