Castlelyons Friary

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Castlelyons Friary

County Cork

Castlelyons Friary East Wing 2015 08 27.jpg
Castlelyons Friary East wing
Location
Grid reference: W84059301
Location: 52°5’21"N, 8°14’1"W
Village: Castlelyons
Order: Carmelites
History
Established: 1307–09 / 1324
Founder: John de Barry, 4th Baron Barry
Information
Condition: ruined

Castlelyons Friary is a former Carmelite Priory in Castlelons in County Cork.

The friary stands ni a ruinous state, four miles south of Fermoy, south of the Munster Blackwater.[1]

History

The friary was founded at Castlelyons for the Carmelite Order in about 1307–09 by John de Barry, 4th Baron Barry, during the reign of King Edward II. De Barry had been granted licence by the King to alienate land for the Carmelites of Drogheda on 11 August 1309, but was without papal license until Pope John XXII granted one in 1324, and then the friary could be built. Later the friary was granted 20 marks (£13 6s. 8d.) a year, to be taken from the people of the town.

Originally the friary had just a small church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Later it was extended westwards by a nave, cloister and tower.

The friary was dissolved in 1541 during Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries and its lands were annexed to the crown in 1561. The land was granted to James de Barry, 4th Viscount Buttevant in 1568.

In 1638, windows were taken from Castlelyons and placed in Lismore Cathedral. About this time, Castlelyons was granted to Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork; he in turn gave it to his daughter Alice (1607–1667).

The friary was re-established in 1737. The last prior, John O'Neil, died in 1760. It was later used as a 'hedge school'.

When it was visited by John Windele in the mid-19th century the locals were using the nave to play handball.[2]

Some restoration was done by the Office of Public Works in the 1930s.[3][4]

Building

The surviving buildings, mostly dating to the 15th century,[5] are the nave, half the tower, parts of the dormitory. In the chancel there is a stone altar. In the west gable is a pointed doorway. Above it is a two-light window with ogee heads.[6]

Outside links

References