Our History

Caherdavin as an area, some two miles from Limerick City, started to expand with the Mc Inerney housing estate in the early 60's. It was part of the Holy Rosary parish on the Ennis Road , which in its origins was an extension of St. Munchins parish in Thomondgate. Caherdavin now contains over 1,400 houses excluding those areas that are still affiliated with the Holy Rosary and St. Munchins. It grew to such a size that the residents were looking for somewhere to celebrate mass locally. A temporary church was set up in the Jetland ballroom, which is now Dunnes Stores. There was only Sunday mass available. The request for Caherdavin to become a parish came from the people. From the early days a Resident Association was established in 1965. The R.A. applied to Bishop Murphy and asked for Caherdavin to become a parish. This was granted and Caherdavin parish was set up on 22 April 1970 . There have been five different locations for the Church of the Caherdavin parish in fifteen years; the Jetland ballroom, Na Piarsaigh G.A.A. club, the Girl Schools halla, the temporary prefab and the Church.
 

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Our Lady of the Rosary parish bought a house in Caherdavin on Derravaragh Road which was in use until 2021 when it was sold.  The first resident curate was Fr. James Galvin. Monsignor Michael Moloney P.P. in St. Munchins purchased a section of land in Caherdavin, which was centrally located within the emerging parish and later extended to contain a parish church, convent, primary school girls and boys, pitch and putt course, credit union, Boy Scout hall and parking areas. Fr. John Browne became the first parish priest followed by Fr. Houlihan in 1976. A temporary prefab church was erected. The residents aspired to having a proper church and they set about fundraising tirelessly. A 1,000 club was set up and other fundraising activities raised the necessary £571,000 to build the church. However the main fundraising activity was by offertory collection envelopes.

Christ the King Church was modelled on the ideas from Vatican II. The church was opened and blessed on the 27 September 1985 by Most Rev. Jeremiah Newman, Bishop of Limerick. John and Nuala Kernan were the architects who designed the Church. Fr. Henry O'Shea of Glenstal was commissioned to design the tabernacle (he was also a silversmith), the altar and ambo, the hanging cross and the baptismal font. Chris Ryan designed the statue of Mary with the infant Jesus in her arms and his daughter Erica designed the stain glass windows depicting the story of creation. It was in the origin vision of the church, that a space would be left for the adoration of the Eucharist, in a Blessed Sacrament Chapel. This was completed in 2002.

Parish Priests

Fr. John Browne R.I.P. 1970 - 1976

Fr. David Houlihan R.I.P. 1976 - 1988

Monsr. Liam Boyle 1988 - 92

Fr. John Ryan R.I.P. 1992 - 1997

Fr. Thomas Ryan 1998 - 2003

Fr. Des McAuliffe 2004 - 2005

Fr. Tom Ryan 2005 -  2019

Fr. Pat O’Sullivan 2019 - Present