Divadlo Hybernia's Irish Connection

Present-day Divadlo Hybernia

The foundation stone of the Irish Franciscan Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (now the Divadlo Hybernia), was laid on 15 August 1652 by the Franciscan prior Francis O’Sullivan in the presence of Emperor Ferdinand III.

The Irish Province of the Order of Franciscans had sought a foothold in Prague from the year 1629 to escape religious repression in their home country and to train new friars, missionaries and priests.  Initially, they were not allowed to fundraise locally, in competition with domestic orders, so much of the necessary finance was contributed by Irish military officers engaged in the Thirty Years War (1618 - 1648), which at the time was in full swing.

The fascinating history of the Order is set out in The Irish Franciscans in Prague 1629 – 1786 by Jan Parez. The church was endowed with many religious relics, including of St Patrick, but on its dissolution (religious reforms carried out by Joseph II) these were scattered to other religious establishments, particularly the Czech Franciscan church Our Lady of the Snows on Jungmannova. The whereabouts of the bodies of the many Irish military men who had contributed to guarantee their next life redemption by being interred within the church and its walls is unknown. Perhaps they are still there?

In fact recent research by The Wild Geese Historical Society indicates that the great Colonel Walter Butler, who commanded a regiment in the Thirty Years War on behalf of the Austrian Empire, was buried there in a leaden coffin. His coffin had been brought there from Schorndorf by his cousin, Walter Devereux in fulfilment of Butler's wishes. Devereux is credited with assassinating the traitorous Generalissimo Albrecht Wallenstein in Eger (now Cheb) in 1634. The Society is proud to value his descendent, Czech artist Josef Ryzec as a member.

An interesting aside to the Irish Franciscans is that they were the first to introduce the Czechs to the eating of potatoes! Prior to the arrival the potato has been regarded by Czechs as a dirty plant, although the flowers were used in ornamentation!

The WGS, in conjunction with the Irish Embassy and CIBCA, has, in recent years,  organised annual commemorations of the laying of the foundation stone. If anyone interested has missed these then we would be happy to mount another one this year. (Friday evening 15 August 2025). You can contact Seán O'Sullivan through CIBCA.

P.S. Did you know that the square on which the church fronted, now Náměstí republiky, was up to 1918 Hybernské náměstí? and of course Hybernská street still remains as a remembrance of those intrepid Irish monks.