
Rosserk Friary is a friary located in
County Mayo
County Mayo (; ga, Contae Mhaigh Eo, meaning "Plain of the yew trees") is a county in Ireland. In the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Coun ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
and a
National Monument
A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure.
The term may also refer to a sp ...
. Located along the river Moy, the friary was set up by the third order of Franciscans.
Description

Rosserk Friary is one of the finest and best preserved of the
Franciscan
, image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg
, image_size = 200px
, caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans
, abbreviation = OFM
, predecessor =
, ...
Friaries in Ireland. It was founded by the Joye family ''circa'' 1440 for the Friars of the Franciscan Third Order Regular.
"Rosserk Abbey", Discover Ireland, Failte Ireland
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Rosserk Friary and Moyne Abbey are located close to each other, north of Ballina on the west side of Killala Bay
Killala Bay ( ga, Cuan Chill Ala) is a bay on the west coast of Ireland between County Mayo and County Sligo. It is situated between Kilcummin Head to the west and Lenadoon Point to the east. and is the estuary for the River Moy. The village of ...
. Both were allegedly burnt by Sir Richard Bingham, Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen".
Eli ...
's governor of Connacht, in 1590 in reformationist zeal.
The stone doorway leading to the church still shows fine workmanship and carvings. The church is built in the late Irish Gothic Style and consists of a single-aisle nave, with two chantry chapels in the south transept and a bell-tower suspended over the chancel arch. In the south-east corner of the chancel is a double piscina
A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, or else in the vestry or sacristy, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a piscina. For Roman ...
with a Round Tower carved on one of its pillars, two angels and the instruments of the passion.
The conventual buildings are well-preserved with three vaulted rooms on each side. The dormitory, refectory and kitchen were on the upper floor, where two fireplaces still remain back-to-back.
Gallery
File:Rosserk Friary 0165.jpg
File:Rosserk Friary 0171.jpg
File:Rosserk Friary 0179.jpg
File:Rosserk Friary 0184.jpg
File:Rosserk Friary 0190.jpg
See also
* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Mayo)
References
External links
Rosserk Friary Co. Mayo
{{coord, 54.1714, N, 9.1434, W, source:wikidata, display=title
Buildings and structures in County Mayo
Franciscan monasteries in the Republic of Ireland
Religion in County Mayo
Ruins in the Republic of Ireland
Christian monasteries established in the 15th century
National Monuments in County Mayo
Gothic architecture in the Republic of Ireland