About Us
WHAT IS FREEMASONRY
AND IS IT FOR YOU?
Freemasonry is a fraternal and charitable organization and is open to all men of goodwill. It encourages friendship and mutual support amongst its members, and it raises funds for deserving causes both within the Order and in the wider community. All freemasons belong to a lodge, which typically has between twenty and fifty members and there are six lodges meeting in the Masonic Province of North Munster, five meet in Limerick and one in Roscrea. North Munster is one of fourteen Masonic provinces within the island of Ireland and is joined by a number of “overseas” provinces, all operating under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, based in Molesworth Street, Dublin. The five Limerick lodges are:
Antient Union Lodge Number 13,
Eden Lodge Number 73,
Ormonde Lodge Number 201,
Excelsior Lodge Number 268,
Triune Lodge Number 333,
and the lodge in Roscrea is,
St. Patrick’s Lodge Number 311.
Freemasonry is ancient, with written records of Limerick lodges dating from the early years of the eighteenth century, but Masonic artefacts indicate that the order has had a presence in the city for at least five hundred years. The organization and “working” of the Order today make use of symbolism based on the craft of the medieval stonemasons and the building of King Solomon’s temple. The old lodge system is the basis of fraternity, and the practices of the medieval mason can be used to teach enduring moral lessons. Because of this many masonic expressions, for example “being on the level” have become part of everyday speech. Freemasonry seeks to make good men better.