Donegal Friary, Franciscan friary in County Donegal, Ireland
Donegal Friary is a monastic ruin near the River Eske featuring Gothic architecture with pointed arches and intricate carved stonework. Visitors can see remaining sections of the church, fragments of the cloister arcade, and decorated stone elements throughout the site.
The friary was established in 1474 by Red Hugh O'Donnell and his mother as a Franciscan community. It remained active until the late 1600s, after which it declined and was eventually abandoned.
This place served as a center where monks recorded and preserved knowledge about Irish history and genealogy. The scholarly work done within these walls helped keep the records of Ireland's past alive for future generations.
The ruins are open for visitors to explore on foot along maintained pathways around the site. Wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven and some stone structures remain fragile.
Stones from the site were reused in the early 1600s to repair Donegal Castle after a change in ownership. This repurposing shows how builders salvaged materials from abandoned religious structures for new construction projects.
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