On 15 August the Wild Geese Historical Society of Czechia (WGHS) commemorated the laying of the foundation stone of the church of the Irish Franciscans in Prague. The church, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is now, of course, the Divadlo Hybernia.

On a scorchingly hot day (so unreminiscent of Irish weather!), we assembled in the archway connecting the palace of one of the Church’s biggest benefactors, Count Šporc with the former church building and studied the history set out on a recently installed plaque. We retired to the monks’ former potato garden for our initial discussions and then circled the former monastery and the church building itself along what once was Hybernské náměstí, (now Náměstí Republiky).  Unfortunately this year we could not gain access to the building itself as the theatre was closed due to preparations for an upcoming performance.

We ended our commemoration across the road in the UK students’ club at Kampus Hybernia Hybernská 4 where we reflected on the history of the Irish Franciscans in Prague and drank a toast to those intrepid monks and the Irish Wild Geese who contributed handsomely to the establishment and upkeep of the church, many of whom were buried within its walls.

Those interested in the history of the Church can get background information in this article