Roscommon Dominican Abbey — Attraction in County Roscommon

Roscommon Abbey - Dominican Priory

This Abbey was founded in 1253, by Felim O'Conor, King of Connacht. Some years before his death, in 1265, he retired thereafter nominating his son Aedh as his successor.

His remains were interred in the north recess, close to the east window. A late 13 century effigy was placed on his tomb flanked by eight mail clad warriors representing Gallowglasses.

These warriors came from the Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland. They owed their allegiance to Aedh O'Conor as 160 of their number were pledged to the King, by their Chieftain, as a dowry on the marriage of his daughter to Aedh O'Conor.

Gallowglass comes from the Irish Gall Oglaigh meaning foreign warrior. As a surname it has been more commonly anglicised as Gallogley, a name quite common in Co. Leitrim.

There is strong evidence to suggest the ruined Abbey served as a Mass house from Penal times right up to 1757 when the first Catholic Church was erected in Chapel Lane.

Notwithstanding the suppressions of the 16 and 17 centuries the Dominicans held their community together and its last two survivors died as Parish Priests of Fuerty and Athleague in 1830 and 1872.

Aedh is the Irish name for Hugh.

John Kerrigan,...

Old Dominican Priory with some very interesting stone carving. The site is well kept and easily accessed although parking is not easy unless you park in the nearby Abbey Hotel. There is no entry charge or ticket required.

Access is through a laneway beside the local school

There is a very famous carving of Gallowglass soldiers in this ruin that regularly featured in history books. The friary and abbey were suppressed by the Elizabethans (Not-So-Good Queen Bess!) but the friars remained in the town until 1721. The intolerant local constable of that time drove them out of the town and they moved into a large farmhouse in Marymount just across the Galway border. From there they served in various local churches until the 1830s when the last of them died out. I think the last one was...

It's a beautiful spot to learn about our local heritage and culture, with its many graves, plaques and statues. The architectural design of the Abbey is superb 👍 the stone arch window frames that cover the wall's are still as beautiful now without the stain glass within them and I can only imagine it's beauty all those years ago. In a lighter note 😊 it's also a front for 1 of the best places for Nerf War 😅 so pass some hrs have a blast with the little one's any day. NB Be very aware of broken glass and dog mess 😕 that's the areas...