friaries ireland

Askeaton Castle: The Castle was founded around the turn of the 13th century, on an island in the River Deel. Part of the 15th century tower on the site remains, itself a replacement of an older tower. Similarly the mid-15th century banqueting hall just inside of the outer wall on the island was built on the foundations of an earlier hall. This hall has finely carved windows and is one of the finest remaining medieval secular buildings, although there was once a chapel attached. After changing...

The Friary was founded in 1507 by the McDonaghs. The unusual church has almost identical windows at each end. The church was entered by doors in the north and south walls. The most remarkable feature of the church is the central tower and belfry, which also acted as a rood-screen, with a narrow passage and two rooms on the ground floor, and an arrangement of three arches (the central one being taller than the other two) on the first floor which is only reachable by a dangerous set of steps on...

Franciscan Friary:
On the seashore south of the town are the scanty remains of a Franciscan Friary founded by the first Red Hugh O'Donnell and his wife Nuala O'Brien in 1474. Of the church only the chancel and a gable of the south transept remain. Better preserved are the remnants of the cloister arcade.
The English seized and fortified the Friary in 1591 but were driven out the following year by Red Hugh O'Donnell. Ten years later, the English seized it again. During a battle...

This Franciscan Friary, founded by Owen O'Rourke and his wife Margaret in 1508, was the last Franciscan friary to be founded in Ireland before the Suppression of the Monasteries. The church has a nave, choir, tower and south transept. The west doorway and the window above it are well preserved, as is also the east window, but the windows in the south transept have vanished. The transept has a number of recesses. The tower was converted into living quarters in the 17th century. To the north...

Remains of Franciscan friary founded in 1485 by Rory MacQuillan. Many interesting features including a burial vault containing the remains of the celebrated MacDonnell chieftain, Sorley Boy, as well as several Earls of Antrim. East range of cloister, gatehouse and church virtually complete except for roof. Free access always. On A2 1/2 mile east of Ballycastle....

The Franciscan Friary at Fair Hill was built on the site known as Martyr's Hill, a place of public execution in the 17th century. The stained glass window over the main entrance is by the famous Irish artist Harry Clarke and is said to be one of the finest in Ireland. The church also has a magnificent high altar, beautifully carved in wood....

Some remains of a Franciscan Friary may be seen in the grounds of the parish priest's house. Founded by one of the Fitzgeralds in the thirteenth century, it later came under the patronage of the O'Byrnes. After the dissolution of the monasteries at the time of the Reformation the building became a courthouse later it was used as a store for war equipment. The heritage centre in the modern courthouse provides a genealogical service and has some interesting artefacts relating to the hist...

Overlooking Lough Arrow, this Dominican friary was founded in 1507 and stands today as a complete16th century ruin with no later appendages. There is a headstone in the nave dating from 1717....

Founded in 146 or 1470 by Fineen or Dermot O'Driscoll for the Franciscan Friars of Strict Observance, the church consists of a nave and chancel, as well as a south transept with two chapels. The main doorway is unusual in that it is in the south and not in the west wall. Most of the original windows have disappeared. Although nothing remains of the cloister arcade, the eastern portion of the domestic wing is preserved; it contained the Chapter Room into which a fireplace was later inserted. T...

The Abbey of St. Francis was built in 1269 and has been rebuilt on several occasions since, the last reconstruction being completed about 1884. The oldest part of the building is the tower which dates from the 14th century. The most significant recent addition was the shrine of St. Anthony, which opened in 1959 and the stained glass windows which were put in 1960....