The Claregalway Friary is a ruined medieval Franciscan abbey in Claregalway, County Galway, Ireland. The abbey site features an east-facing, cruciform church with a 24-metre bell tower. The ruins of the living quarters and cloister are situated to the south of the church building.
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It's worth visiting at least once! I really liked it.
Founded: circa 1252. • 👤 Founder: probably John de Coucy (Norman Lord of Connacht) - Anglo-Norman lord. • 📜 Order: Franciscans (Ordo Fratrum Minorum - OFM).
Claregalway Friary is a typical example of a Gothic Franciscan monastery with simple but expressive elements: • Main church: long nave with chancel. • Bell tower: square, 14th century, well preserved. • Cloister: now destroyed, but some arches are still visible. • Tombs: burials of local nobility, especially the De Burgh family, patrons of the monastery, have survived. • Windows: Gothic, lancet, with remains of stone carving.
13th–16th centuries • The monastery flourished as a center of religion, education, and aid to the poor. • Received significant support from the local aristocracy, especially the Burke/de Burgo clan.
1538 • Was ravaged by the troops of Henry VIII during the Reformation and the confiscation of the monastery lands. • However, the monks secretly returned and continued their services until the end of the 18th century.
18th–19th centuries • By the beginning of the 19th century, the monastery had completely fallen into disrepair. • Part of the adjacent territory was used as a cemetery (and is still...
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One of my favorite places in all of western Ireland, this friary is an excellent historical find. Looking at the ancient architecture makes you imagine what transpired here over it's great history. I'm also very happy to see that restoration/preservation efforts have recently begun here, and once complete will be an excellent complement to the recently restored tower house across the street and a boost to...
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It's a quick trip from Galway proper. There's nothing particularly spectacular about it, but it's always impressive to see these old structures (for an American at least). There is only one board giving any sort of history on the place, so that's not great. Worth a trip though. Especially if you happen to also be able to time it with a trip to...
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