One of the best preserved monastic sites in Ireland is the medieval Franciscan “Ross Errilly Friary” on the border of counties Galway and Mayo. While the locals often referred to it as “Ross Abbey,” that was inaccurate, as it never had an abbott. There are some documents that claim the Friary was founded around 1351, but “official” archeological research and evidence states it was closer to 1460, when the Franciscan monks from Ross Errilly arrived at the request of the Tyrconnell Clan. Life at the friary quickly became disrupted during the English Reformation because the Franciscans opposed King Henry VIII’s break with Rome. By 1538, the English Crown imprisoned some 200 of the monks and banished the rest. At the start of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, the property had been confiscated and given to Richard Burgh, the second Earl of Clanrickarde. However, he secretly gave it back to the Franciscans.
The friary was once again confiscated by the English in 1584 and the monks were evicted. Two years later, the Earl of Clanrickarde bought the property and again returned it to the Franciscans. When the “Nine Years War (1593 to 1603)” occurred between England and Ireland, the English army turned the friary into a garrison post.
The property continued to switch ownership until Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland. At that time, the friary became an informal shelter for Catholic Clergy fleeing Cromwell’s troops. In 1753, the monks once again abandoned the property because of religious persecution. They never returned and the building descended into ruins.
Today, as a National Monument, Ross Errilly Friary is maintained by the Office of Public Works and is open to visitors, free of charge. It has been featured in such films as “Bad Karma,” “Moving Target,” and the series “Reign.”
The friary was once again confiscated by the English in 1584 and the monks were evicted. Two years later, the Earl of Clanrickarde bought the property and again returned it to the Franciscans. When the “Nine Years War (1593 to 1603)” occurred between England and Ireland, the English army turned the friary into a garrison post.
The property continued to switch ownership until Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland. At that time, the friary became an informal shelter for Catholic Clergy fleeing Cromwell’s troops. In 1753, the monks once again abandoned the property because of religious persecution. They never returned and the building descended into ruins.
Today, as a National Monument, Ross Errilly Friary is maintained by the Office of Public Works and is open to visitors, free of charge. It has been featured in such films as “Bad Karma,” “Moving Target,” and the series “Reign.”
Officially founded over 550 years ago, Ross Errilly Friary is the best preserved medieval monastic site in all of Ireland.
Near the Black River, the friary sits on the border of counties Galway and Mayo.
Over the years, life for the monks here was fraught with periodic evictions before they finally abandoned the property in 1753.
An 1867 image of the friary from William Wilde’s book “Lough Corrib.”
The interior of the friary is huge.
It even had a well for live fish to serve as a food source for the monks.
While the friary itself has been abandoned since the mid-1700’s,, locals have continued to use the grounds for burials up until modern times.
We had a delightful visit.
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