friaries ireland

As this order was more involved in parish work than the First Order communities, particularly in the less anglicised parts of Connacht and Ulster, its buildings are less ambitious - and Bonamargy is no exception. One of the last friaries to be built before the Reformation, it was approached by a small, two-storey gate-house. The friary church, originally roofed with thatch, is long and rectangular, and retains much of a fine east window. Against the south wall is a fine McNaghten tomb of 163...

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...

Straide Friary was founded under the patronage of Jordan de Exeter around 1240 for the Franciscans, but at the insistence of his daughter-in-law, Basilia Birmingham, it was transferred to the Dominicans in 1252. The surviving church has a thirteenth century chancel with six small lancet windows, but the rest of the building dates from a fifteenth-century restoration. Its two treasures date from the restoration: a high altar with elegant decorations including a Pieta flanked by donors and a del...

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 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...

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...

Augustinian Friary

Eamonn Mac Risderd Butler of Pottlerath founded this Friary for the Augustinian Observants in 1462, but it was his son James who erected the existing buildings between 1467 and 1470, by which time the church had been affiliated to Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome. The church consists of one Long rectangle crowned by a central tower, and it has a decorative doorway and window in the east wall. The sedilia in the south wall of the choir is one of the most orn...

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...

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....

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....