The site pre­vi­ous­ly housed a church built in 1791 and parts of that struc­ture were incor­po­rat­ed into the present build­ing, which boasts an impres­sive Goth­ic archi­tec­tur­al style. Inside, vis­i­tors can view fine sculp­tures, a spec­tac­u­lar mar­ble High Altar and more than 40 stained glass win­dows. The church is also famous for hous­ing the shrine of St Oliv­er Plun­kett, who is cred­it­ed with bring­ing Jesuits to Droghe­da. He was hanged for trea­son in 1681. Pope Paul VI declared him a saint in 1973, and his pre­served head forms the cen­tre­piece of the shrine.