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Clane Franciscan Friary

Clane Franciscan Friary: Address, Clane Franciscan Friary Review: 3/5

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Clane Franciscan Friary

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Clane Franciscan Friary
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#7 of 9 things to do in Clane
Ancient Ruins • Religious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
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17 within 10 kms
Clane Abbey & Remembrance Garden
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0 mCemeteries • Religious Sites
Liffey Walk
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0.6 kmScenic Walking Areas
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Donadea Forest Park
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3.0
1 review
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Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland8,425 contributions
Beautiful Ruined Friary But Too Much Development Around
May 2019 • Solo
As my title suggests, this is a wonderful old friary ruin, beautiful and venerable but there is just to much development around it with a main road beside it and a bust hotel and shopping centre within a few metres of its walls.
I've passed it hundreds of times on that very same busy road and always meant to step out and have a look. I'm really glad I did so and I simply could not believe that it wasn't listed on TA.
A display board at the en trance tells you that t he Friary was founded by Gerald Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald in 1258 and was one of Ireland’s earliest Franciscan monasteries. It was suppressed by Henry VIII in 1536 during his purge of the monasteries in Ireland.
Over the centuries the friary fell into disrepair but after the Black Death, severe storms and famine the local people restored the friary to its former lustre in 1433-1450. By 1540 though after the Geraldine rebellion much of the friary lay in ruins again and much of its fine stone was taken to be used in the repair of Maynooth Castle. It has once again fallen into disrepair and disuse but Franciscans still return each year to celebrate Mass and the adjoining graveyard is still very much in use today.
It is free to enter and much of the walls survive. The roof is long gone and the interior decor has been lost too.As I mentioned, it would be worth far more than 3 stars were it not for the modern development all around it. Enter through the gate or through the stone stile on main street. Still well worth a visit.
Written 7 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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