Adare Friary, Medieval friary in Adare, Ireland
Adare Friary is a 15th-century Franciscan monastery standing by the Maigue River with stone walls, cloister remains, and a tall bell tower that shapes the landscape of County Limerick. The buildings show typical monastic design with narrow piers, high arches, and windows featuring round and ornate carved heads.
Founded in 1464 by Thomas Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald, the 7th Earl of Kildare, the church was built for the Franciscan order to serve the local community. Over time, wealthy donors expanded the complex with additional spaces and sacred objects.
The name comes from the river nearby, showing how the monks chose this spot to live close to water and nature. You can sense how the location shaped their daily routine and spiritual life in this place.
The friary sits within the Adare Manor golf course grounds and you can reach it during daylight hours through marked walking paths. Wear sturdy shoes as the paths are uneven and parts of the ruins are exposed to the elements.
The chapel of the Virgin Mary was funded by Margaret Fitzgibbon, a wealthy patron who supported the spiritual life at the riverside location. Another benefactor, Cornelius O'Sullivan, donated a silver gilt chalice to the monastery, a piece that shows the craftsmanship of medieval metalwork.
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