friaries ireland

The site is intimately associated with the lighting of the first Paschal Fire in Ireland by St. Patrick in 433, thus symbolising the triumph of Christianity over paganism. St. Erc founded a monastery here in Early Christian times, and there was also a medieval abbey here, but little is known about the history of the place until it was rebuilt in its present form in 1512 when Sir Christopher Flemmyng founded a small Franciscan Third Order friary here. Both it and the College beside it were surre...

The ruins of the Franciscan friary founded by Archbishop Patrick Scannail in 1263-64. The surviving walls are those of the long nave-and-chancel church, into the centre of which a tower was inserted in the 15th century. Near the eastern end is a rare extant example of a medieval altar, and remnants of the south aisle are still visible at the western end of the nave. Nothing remains of the cloister which lay to the north of the church. After the friary was dissolved in 1542, the doors and wind...

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....

Dominican Friary, Portumna

The Friary, was originally a chapel belonging to the Cistercians, an dwas dedicated to St. Peter and Paul. After it was abandoned by them, the O'Madden gave it to the Dominicans, who erected,a church and friary that was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Pope Martin V confirmed their status with a special "Bull" or document in 1426.

To the east are two narrow and pointed windows, that are date from the original 13th century Cistercian Church. But the...

The Franciscan Friary was founded in the 15th century and is in a remarkable state of preservation. The tower was added after the church was built and is the only Franciscan tower in Ireland which is as wide as the church. The cloister and its associated buildings are complete and an old Yew Tree stands in the centre. The monks were finally driven out by the Cromwellians in 1652.

There are guided tours available on request.

There is a public car park close to the site.