Askeaton Abbey Friary, Medieval Franciscan friary in Askeaton, Ireland.
Askeaton Abbey Friary is a medieval Franciscan monastery built on the site of an earlier castle along the River Deel in County Limerick. The stone structures include a church, north transept, sacristy, and cloister arcade arranged around the central open space.
The religious community was founded between 1389 and 1400 by Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond, as a Franciscan center. The monastery served as an important foundation for several centuries before its dissolution during the Reformation period.
The cloister displays stone carvings showing Saint Francis of Assisi bearing stigmata and medieval depictions of Christ as Man of Sorrows. These carved figures express the spiritual devotion that shaped this place and still draw people's attention today.
The site is open for visitors to explore the ruins of the church, residential areas, and several altar tombs of the Fitzgerald family. The riverside location provides a peaceful setting, though the ground can be uneven so sturdy footwear is advisable.
Four ancient bells from the monastery lay hidden beneath the friary entrance for decades before their discovery in 1914. These recovered bells offer a rare glimpse into the daily life and rituals that once took place within these walls.
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