St Augustine's on Washington Street, Cork, is now home to just three Augustinian priestsA religious community which has been ministering to the people of Cork for almost 800 years its to close its church in the city centre later this year. O’Reilly told Mass-goers that the decision to close St Augustine’s was taken with “great sadness”. According to the Order of St Augustine website, it has 70 priests living in 10 locations in Ireland. O’Reilly said one of the considerations informing the order in its decision to close the Washington Street church was the knowledge that “Cork city centre is well served by Franciscans, Capuchins, Dominicans, and by an abundance of diocesan churches”. According to Augustinian historian Fr Thomas Butler, the Order of St Augustine came to Cork some time between 1270 and 1300.

Source: The Irish Times March 02, 2026 13:24 UTC