Adare Friary

"Augustinian Abbey, Adare
(with the castle of the Fitzgeralds and the Francescan Abbey)", 1842

The church in 2007

The Adare Friary, located in Adare, County Limerick, Ireland, formerly known as the "Black Abbey", is an Augustinian Friary founded in 1316 by the Earl of Kildare. It is now known as "St. Nicholas' Church of Ireland" parish church, and school.

History

The Augustinian friars first came to Dublin from England in about 1260. They were invited to Adare by John FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare in 1316 and given land and houses in the town.

By 1541 the Augustinians owned nearly 80 acres (320,000 m²) of land, several cottages and gardens in the village and a fishing weir on the river. As part of the Tudor suppression of Irish Monasteries at the end of the 16th century, the Augustinians were driven out of Adare and had moved to Limerick City by 1633.

Many of the features of the friary are very well preserved, particularly the small 15th century cloister and sedilia.

In 1814, the refectory (dining area) of the friary was rebuilt as a school which is still used today. The Dunraven family continued restoration work on the friary through the 19th century.

Burials

• Windham Wyndham-Quin, 5th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
• Windham Wyndham-Quin, 4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
• Valentine Quin, 1st Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
• John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare
• Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Kildare

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Limerick)