friaries ireland

The Ennis Friary, is a Franciscan Friary founded by the O'Briens Kings of Thomond, in the 13th century. The site was originally on an island in the River Fergus aroudn which the modern town of Ennis has grown. Its monuments are famous, notably the McMahon tomb (15th century) with carvings of the Passion of Our Lord....

Founded possibly by the Mac Carthy Reagh, Lord of Carbery, in 1240 or by William de Barry during the reign of Edward 111 for the Friars of the Strict Observance of St. Francis. The buildings date from various periods. The original church was much shorter than the present one, extending only as far westwards as the third arch from the tower. The church was probably lengthened when the tower was added by Edmund de Courcy, Bishop of Ross, who died in 1518. There is an aisle and a transept with...

In the present friary church parts of a 15th century church survive, including the nave, south transept and tower, as well as the south window (though not its glass). Nothing remains of the chancel or of the original domestic buildings. The church was given its present form in 1827 when the Franciscans returned to their old monastery. The church was refurbished in 1976....

Callan Friary The village of Callan is associated with religion as Edmund Rice was born in this village. Rice was the founder of the religious order, known as the Christian Brothers,which were begun at the end of the 18th century. The Christian Brothers are credited with educating the less wealthy people of Ireland. The cottage is located at Westcourt, just outside the village and is marked by a plaque. The Friary was founded for the Augustinians in 1462, by Eamonn Butler of Portrathbut it wa...

Sligo Abbey was founded in 1252 or 1253 for the Dominicans by Maurice Fitzgerald, 2nd Baron of Offaly, who was also founder of the town. Having escaped the ravages suffered by the now destroyed Sligo Castle in the 13th and 14th centuries, the Friary was accidentally burned in 1414, but was rebuilt two years later by Friar Bryan MacDonagh with assistance from Pope John XXIII.
In 1568 O'Conor Sligo made a petition to Queen Elizabeth not to dissolve the Friary, and this was granted on t...

The friary was founded in 1229 or 1237 for the Augustinian Canons by Philip de Barry who dedicated it to St. Thomas and erected a brass statue of himself on horseback in the church. David de Barry enlarged and enriched the monastery in 1235. The church was built shortly after the foundation and has tow fine west windows. The central tower with interior staircase and the tower to the west were both added in the 15th century. The claustral buildings contain little of interest. The most unusua...

The Dominican Friary: the friary was founded by the de Burgh or a MacJordan for the Dominicans in 1274. the 13th century church is a long rectangular structure with a small crucifixion panel over the west door and the remains of a fine triple lancet east window. Possibly as late as the 15th century some of the lancet windows in the south wall were built up, and at the same time a separate aisle was added with a fine window. The nave was partially rebuilt in the 15th century. To the north...

Of the original church there remain the walls, the west doorway and, in the south wall, two aisle arches (with a figure of St. Francis inserted later between them) and another beside the alter which led to a now no longer existing south transept.

The east window is a modern insertion, but the west window probably dates to a partial reconstruction in the 17th century, when a door to the sacristy was inserted. Parts of the east and west portions of the domestic buildings still stand....

The present massive tower, or donjon, was originally one of three towers interspersed in the curtain wall of a strong Norman castle which was also guarded by two semicircular towers and a gatehouse (parts of which remain to the south of the tower). The tower has 5 storeys, and the walls are up to 20 feet thick. A southern window-niche opening off the second floor has Romanesque decoration on the inside, while there is early Gothic decoration on a chimney piece in the floor above.

The...

The Franciscans have had a long association with Wexford, reaching back to the founding of the Friary in 1230. They endured two major interruptions to their tenure, the first in the 16th century, at the dissolution of the monasteries. Returning in 1622 they restored the friary only to have it destroyed by Cromwell 27 years later. The present building is largely 18th century when extensive renovation work took place. Two of the walls, however date from pre-Cromwellian times. The church is bea...