Athassel Priory is the largest medieval priory in Ireland, stretching over a site. The priory dates back to the late 12th century when it was founded by the Augustinians under the patronage of

William de Burgh William de Burgh ( , ; ; –winter 1205/06) was the founder of the House of Burgh (later surnamed Burke or Bourke) in Ireland and elder brother of Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent and Geoffrey de Burgh, Bishop of Ely. William is often given ...

(founder of Ireland's Burke Dynasty). William's grandson Hubert de Burgh, (or Burgo) later the Bishop of Limerick, was prior at Athassel . The original buildings were altered and renovated over the next 300 years. The priory was burnt twice, once in 1329 by Brian King of Thomond and again in 1581 by John Fitzgerald of Desmond. A large town had grown up around the priory but was destroyed during the two raids. The priory was finally dissolved in 1537 and the lands given to

Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond and 3rd Earl of Ossory PC (Ire) (; – 1614), was an influential courtier in London at the court of Elizabeth I. He was Lord Treasurer of Ireland from 1559 to his death. He fought for the crown in th ...

, who neglected the abbey, and it subsequently fell into ruin.

Architecture

The priory is accessed by a bridge and gate-lodge. Here the visitor can begin to note patterns that will be discerned throughout the site. The reconstruction and modification of the buildings is evident, often involving their "downsizing" to meet the needs of a smaller community. Nothing remains of the town that once surrounded the priory. The main aisle of the priory was used in recent centuries as a burial ground. The now blocked-up rood screen can be seen over the doorway in the centre. The walls are full of put-log holes, now ideal nest sites for dozens of jackdaws. These holes were used in construction to affix scaffolding-timbers. Extensive remains of monastics quarters are located to the south of the priory. The buildings are mostly made of

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

and

rubble Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture; undressed especially as a filling-in. Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as 'brash' (compare cornbrash)."Rubble" def. 2., "Brash n. 2. def. 1. ''Oxford English Dictionar ...

Burials

* Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster * Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster *

, died 1205, founder of the de Burgh dynasty in Ireland

References

*Leask, ''Irish Churches & Monastic Buildings, Vol.2'' *McCraith, ''Athassel Priory and its Patrons'', The New Ireland Review, 1910 *''Athassel Abbey'', The Commissioners of Public Works

External links

Priory Ruins

Priory Interior
Augustinian monasteries in the Republic of Ireland Religion in County Tipperary National monuments in County Tipperary Ruins in the Republic of Ireland Former populated places in Ireland Archaeological sites in County Tipperary Burial sites of the House of Burgh Monasteries dissolved under the Irish Reformation {{Ireland-archaeology-stub

Architecture

Burials

See also

References

External links