Roscrea Friary

Roscrea Friary (Irish: Mainistir na bProinsiasach)[1] is a ruined medieval Franciscan friary and National Monument located in Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland.[2][3] It is on Abbey Street, in the west end of Roscrea, on the north bank of the River Bunnow. The Friary was founded in the 15th century by Greyfriars (Franciscans) and later destroyed by British soldiers. What remains are the north and east walls and the bell-tower.

Roscrea Friary
Mainistir Ros Cré
The abbey church
Roscrea Friary is located in Ireland
Roscrea Friary
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
OrderOrder of Friars Minor Conventual (before 1477)
Order of Friars Minor (1490 on)
Establishedbefore 1477
Disestablishedc. 1579
DioceseKillaloe
People
Founder(s)Maelruanaid O Cerbaill
Architecture
StatusInactive
StyleLate Gothic
Site
LocationAbbey Street, Roscrea, County Tipperary
Coordinates52.952518°N 7.799660°W / 52.952518; -7.799660
Public accessyes
Official nameRoscrea Friary

History

Tradition ascribes the first foundation of a monastery here to Crónán of Roscrea (died 640).[4]

Roscrea Friary was founded before 1477 by the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (Greyfriars) by Maolruanaidh Ó Cerbaill (Mulrooney O'Carroll, King of Éile; 1390–c.1480) and his wife Bibiana (née Dempsey).

It was reformed c. 1490 for the Order of Friars Minor. The present buildings date to that period.

The friary was dissolved c. 1577–79 and destroyed by English soldiers. Fr Thady O'Daly escaped capture but was later hanged in Limerick.[5]

The friary's land was granted to Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond c. 1568, who assigned it to William Crow.[6] ed[7]

Some of the friary stone may have been used to build the Catholic church in the 18th century.[8]

Buildings

Remaining are the north and east walls and the central bell-tower.[9]

The bell-tower is two storeys high and is crenellated. The tower is carried on pointed arches which have a chamfered soffit order, on moulded corbels.[10][11]

  • The abbey in snow
    The abbey in snow
  • Northeast corbel. Square mason's marks are visible on the stones.
    Northeast corbel. Square mason's marks are visible on the stones.
  • The bell tower
    The bell tower

References
  1. "Mainistir na bProinsiasach/Franciscan Friary". logainm.ie. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  2. Halpin, Andy; Newman, Conor (26 October 2006). Ireland: An Oxford Archaeological Guide to Sites from Earliest Times to AD 1600. OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780191513176 – via Google Books.
  3. Manning, Conleth (1 January 2003). Excavations at Roscrea Castle. Stationery Office. ISBN 9780755714315 – via Google Books.
  4. Cobbett, William (23 October 2017). "The Protestant "Reformation" Part Second: Containing a List of the Abbeys, Priories, Nunneries, Hospitals, and Other Religious Foundations, in England and Wales, and in Ireland, Confiscated, Seized On, Or Alienated, by the Protestant "Reformation" Sovereigns and Parliaments". A. Cobbett – via Google Books.
  5. "Irish Confessors and Martyrs - Dictionary definition of Irish Confessors and Martyrs - Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary". www.encyclopedia.com.
  6. "Praying Nature at Roscrea Friary, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary". www.praying-nature.com.
  7. Millett, Benignus (23 October 1964). The Irish Franciscans, 1651-1665. Gregorian Biblical BookShop. ISBN 9788876521027 – via Google Books.
  8. "Roscrea (Co. Tipperary) - Irish Franciscans". www.franciscans.ie.
  9. "Roscrea Friary". irishantiquities.bravehost.com.
  10. "Roscrea, Franciscan Friary, Co. Tipperary". www.thestandingstone.ie.
  11. Danielle, O'Donovan (9 December 2006). "Roscrea Franciscan Friary". hdl:2262/3899. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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