Athy Priory

Coordinates: 52°59′26″N 6°59′00″W / 52.990694°N 6.983284°W / 52.990694; -6.983284
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Athy Priory
Mainistir Átha Í
Athy Priory is located in Ireland
Athy Priory
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other namesBailr-atha-ai; Athai; Athies
OrderDominican Order
Established1253
Disestablishedmid-19th century
DioceseDublin
People
Founder(s)Boysel and Hogan family
Architecture
Statusruined
StyleNorman
Site
LocationSt Michael's, Athy, County Kildare
Coordinates52°59′26″N 6°59′00″W / 52.990694°N 6.983284°W / 52.990694; -6.983284
Public accessyes

Athy Priory is a former friary of the Dominican Order located in Athy, Ireland.[1]

Location[edit]

Athy Priory is located in the south of the town, on the east bank of the River Barrow.[2]

History[edit]

Athy Priory was founded by the Boiseles (Boysel) and Hogans in 1253, although some sources give the date as 1257.[3][4] John of Slane gave them six acres, and Edward II consented to this grant. In 1288, 1295 and 1305, chapters of the order were held at Athy.[5]

The priory was dissolved 30 April 1539 and rented to Martin Pelles, constable of Athy, on 26 April 1540. At that time, the priory owned two fishing-weirs, a water mill, while the buildings were a church and belfry, chapter-house, dormitory, hall, three chambers and a kitchen, a cemetery, garden and orchard.[6] In 1588 the priory was granted to Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare.

Athy was refounded c.1622 by Fr Ross Mageoghegan. Friars also returned in 1754.[7]

The chapel was enlarged 1864-7 but the priory was dissolved mid-19th century.[8]

A new church was built and opened 17 March 1965. The old church was demolished in 1973. A library was later built on the site.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kildare Nationalist — Former Dominican priory to open as emergency accommodation for families". 28 April 2017.
  2. ^ French, Robert (1865). "Dominican Friary, Athy, Co. Kildare". catalogue.nli.ie.
  3. ^ Brewer, James Norris (1826). The Beauties of Ireland: Being Original Delineations, Topographical, Historical, and Biographical, of Each County. Sherwood, Jones, & Company. p. 40 – via Internet Archive. Athy friary.
  4. ^ Ware, Sir James (23 December 2018). "The Antiquities and History of Ireland". A. Crook – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Archdall, Mervyn (23 December 1876). Monasticon Hibernicum: Or, A History of the Abbeys, Priories, and Other Religious Houses in Ireland; Interspersed with Memoirs of Their Several Founders and Benefactors, and of Their Abbots and Other Superiors, to the Time of Their Final Suppression. W. B. Kelly. p. 250 – via Internet Archive. Athy friary.
  6. ^ County Kildare :County Kildare Archaeological Society; County Kildare Archaeological Society (28 January 1891). "Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society" – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ "DOMINICAN ORDER IN ATHY – SEVEN CENTURIES OF SERVICE". www.kildare.ie.
  8. ^ "History of Athy". Irish Walled Towns Network. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  9. ^ Now, Kildare. "Iconic €4m Athy Library unveiled this morning in former Dominican Priory". Kildare Now. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.

External links[edit]