Provincial
Grand Lodge

Welcome to the website of the Provincial Grand Lodge of North Munster.  Here you will find a description of what Freemasonry is all about, some information about our history, how we are organised, what we do and how you can become a member.  The Masonic Province of North Munster, centred on Limerick, includes all of the Counties of Limerick and Clare and adjoining parts of Tipperary and Kerry.  We are one of the constituent Masonic provinces working under the Grand Lodge of Ireland.  Our lodges meet in the City of Limerick and in the town of Roscrea and we have a long history in this part of the world, with evidence of over five hundred years of Masonic activity.  The origins of Freemasonry lie in the medieval stoneworkers’ guilds and associations, and we use the symbolism of those societies in our activities today.  Our members meet in individual lodges, or assemblies of about twenty to forty members and we have six lodges in the Masonic Province of North Munster, five meeting in Limerick and one in Roscrea.

 

Freemasonry is open to all men of goodwill who profess a belief in a supreme being, but we are not a religious or political organisation, in fact we forbid all discussion of religion or politics at our meetings.  Our objectives are fraternity and charity, fraternity through fellowship and camaraderie and charity through supporting practically and financially good and deserving causes.  Men join us for friendship, to support charitable work, because they are interested in our history or local history, or just out of curiosity.  Through our traditions, and through our fraternal and charitable activities we hope to make good men better.  

 

Masonic meetings are formal and private occasions, but are conducted much like any other business meeting.  There is a formal opening, minutes of the previous meeting are read, correspondence dealt with. discussion of any other business and a formal closing followed by an informal festive board.  The “secrecy” aspect of Freemasonry is often talked about, but is actually very limited and can be easily explained in terms of our history and the practicality of what we do.  First, it is an acknowledgement of our history and comes from the days when a skilled craftsman would prove his credentials through the knowledge of certain words and symbols given to him on the completion of his training; and secondly as our meetings may involve discussions about charity donations we feel that such considerations should remain private.  It is also important to emphasise that Freemasonry is not a method of social or financial advancement.  Members are expected to work for the Order and to make a positive contribution to society at large without expectation of reward.

 

Whether you come to these pages out of curiosity, as a historian or as a would-be member, we hope that you will find them interesting and informative.  There is practical information about where and when we meet, some details about our history as a masonic province and the history of our individual lodges.   A membership enquiry page is available if you would like to know more and we welcome enquiry about membership. 

 

Right Worshipful Brother,

Thomas H. Peirce,

Provincial Grand Master,

Masonic Province of North Munster