The Callan Augustinian Friary () is an Augustinian

friary A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

situated in Callan, Co Kilkenny, Ireland. It is known locally as the "Abbey Meadow" and is located to the north-east of the town, on the banks of the Kings River. The new Augustinian Friary located in the town via the river is connected to the Abbey.

History

In 1461, Edmund MacRichard Butler successfully petitioned Pope Pius II for the foundation of the friary. After Edmund died in 1462, the buildings were erected by his son, James Butler who is regarded as the founder of the monastery. The foundation date of the friary is typically given as 1471, is likely to have actually been two or three years earlier, in 1468 or 1469. In 1472 the friary became observant—its community adopted the fashion then spreading across Europe for the strictest observance of the monastic rules — and in 1479 it became the centre of the

Irish Observant Congregation Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

. The friary was dissolved and its lands confiscated by the order of

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...

in 1540. It passed into the hands of the

Earls of Ormond Earldom of Ormond may refer to: *Earl of Ormond (Scotland), created twice in the Peerage of Scotland for the House of Douglas *Earl of Ormond (Ireland) The peerage title Earl of Ormond and the related titles Duke of Ormonde and Marquess of Orm ...

. The history of the

Augustinians Augustinians are members of Christian religious orders that follow the Rule of Saint Augustine, written in about 400 AD by Augustine of Hippo. There are two distinct types of Augustinians in Catholic religious orders dating back to the 12th–13 ...

in Callan from 1540 - 1766 is now lost, but it is known that members of the order returned to the monastery, and there is a wealth of documentary evidence indicating that Augustinian friars were resident in Callan from the mid 17th century. A new monastery for the Augustinian friars was founded in the town of Callan in

1766 Events January–March * January 1 – Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie") becomes the new Stuart claimant to the throne of Great Britain, as King Charles III, and figurehead for Jacobitism. * January 14 – Chr ...

and was closed by the order in Easter 2001.

Architecture

The friary church is a long, rectangular building with a central bell-tower. The east end or choir, is lit by an east window and in its south wall is one of the finest sedilia (a seat for officiating priests) in Ireland. The domestic buildings and the cloister court no longer survive. However, a freshwater well still remains on the grounds of the abbey.

References

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Sources

* {{refend Religious buildings and structures completed in 1467 Augustinian monasteries in the Republic of Ireland Buildings and structures in County Kilkenny Religion in County Kilkenny Ruins in the Republic of Ireland 1470s establishments in Ireland Christian monasteries established in the 15th century National Monuments in County Kilkenny Callan, County Kilkenny

History

Architecture

See also

References

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