North Abbey, Youghal

The Priory of Our Lady of Graces, known locally as the North Abbey, was a 13th-century Irish Dominican Order, Dominican monastery situated north of Youghal, County Cork.

History

The priory was founded in 1268 by Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Baron Desmond, Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald, the second baron of Earl of Desmond, Desmond, whose maternal grandfather, Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly, had founded the Franciscan Friary of South Abbey, Youghal.

The Dominican priory was initially dedicated to the Christian cross, Holy Cross, but was changed to 'Our Lady of Graces' in the late 15th century following the re-discovery of a small, ivory statue of the Madonna and Child.

Samuel Lewis (publisher), Samuel Lewis in his ''Samuel Lewis (publisher)#A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Topographical Dictionary of Ireland'', written in 1837, said of it: "Thomas, whose son, in 1263 or 1271, founded a Dominican monastery, called the Priory of St. Mary of Graces."

This statue had made Youghal the centre of Marian devotions, Marian devotion for several centuries, but ended after the priory was dissolved under King Henry VIII in the 16th century. The statue can now be found in St Mary's Dominican Priory in Cork City.

Lewis goes on to say in his book that:

The western gable and some of the eastern portions of the Dominican friary, at the north end of the town, still remain
...
Near the south end of the town is a chapel of ease, a neat plain building, erected in 1817 on the cemetery of the ancient Dominican friary, at an expense of £1200, of which £900 was a gift from the late Board of First Fruits and £300 was raised by subscription

Today

Some ruins of the priory can still be seen, and the area is also home to the main cemetery of Youghal.

Burials

*Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Baron Desmond
*John FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Desmond
*James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond
*James FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Desmond
*Thomas FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Desmond

References

External sources

* Samuel Lewis, ''Topographical Dictionary of Ireland'', 1837.

See also

* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland#County Cork, List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Cork)
* Youghal
* Youghal Priory
* South Abbey, Youghal
* Molana Abbey
* Rincrew Abbey
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Dominican monasteries in the Republic of Ireland, Youghal
Religion in Youghal
Buildings and structures in Youghal
Ruins in the Republic of Ireland, Youghal
1268 establishments in Ireland, Youghal
Christian monasteries established in the 13th century, Youghal
National Monuments in County Cork, Youghal