Information board Donegal Friary

The following text is included, "Donegal Friary was founded for the Franciscan Friars in 1474 by the first Red Hugh O'Donnell and his wife Nuala O'Brien. It survived until it was plundered by the English in 1588. Four years later, they in turn were driven out by the second Red Hugh (who left Ireland shortly after the battle of Kinsale in 1602), and the friars repaired the buildings. In 1601, during a siege of the friary by English forces—commanded by the renegade Niall Garbh O'Donnell—gunpowder stores exploded and wrecked the building. The friary was then granted to Sir Basil Brooke who used the church for Protestant worship. The friars wandered from place to place after Brooke took over, but remained active. Between 1632 and 1636 four scholars — led by Brother Michael O'Cleary — compiled what has become one of the most important sources for the history of Ireland: the Annals of the Four Masters. All the buildings were arranged around a central cloister or courtyard, but the remains are very fragmentary. Some of the cloister arcade survives, but very little of the church. Notice This national monument Is in the care of the Commissioners of Public Works for the state under the provisions of the National Monuments Act. The public are requested to aid the Commissioners in preserving it. Injury or defacement is severely punishable by law" Located here G9278 : Donegal Friary

  © Copyright Kenneth Allen and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence .

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