Ardfert Abbey

Ardfert Abbey is a medieval Franciscan friary and National Monument located in County Kerry, Ireland.[1][2][3]

Ardfert Abbey

Mainistir Ard Fhearta
Ruins of the abbey church
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other names	Ard-ferta-brenainn; Hertfert; Hyferte; Ifert
Order	Order of Friars Minor Conventual
Established	c. 1253
Disestablished	1580
Diocese	Ardfert and Aghadoe
People
Founder(s)	Thomas Fitzmaurice, 1st Baron Kerry
Architecture
Status	Inactive
Style	Late Gothic
Site
Location	Ardfert, County Kerry
Coordinates	52.330162°N 9.773831°W / 52.330162; -9.773831
Visible remains	choir, nave, cloister, dormitory
Public access	yes
National Monument of Ireland
Official name	Ardfert Abbey
Reference no.	358

Location

Ardfert Abbey is located in the east part of Ardfert village.[4]

History

It is thought that Ardfert was the original site of the monastery founded by Saint Brendan, which burned down c. 1089.

Ardfert Friary was founded for the Order of Friars Minor Conventual c. 1253 by Thomas Fitzmaurice, 1st Baron Kerry; he was purportedly buried here c. 1280–1.[5]

In 1310 a disagreement with the Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe Nicol Ó Samradáin led to some friars suffering violent beatings.

A residential tower was added to the west end of the church in the 15th century.

It was refounded in 1517 for the Observant Franciscan Friars and finally dissolved in 1584; Col. John Zouche turned it into a barracks. Some friars remained in the area. In 1590 it belonged to James FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond.[6]

In 1636 the friary was absorbed into the estate of the Earls of Glandore (Crosbie family).[7][8]

In 1670 the 15th-century window of the church was moved to Ardfert Cathedral; it was returned to the friary in 1815.

Buildings

The layout of the building follows the standard layout of most Franciscan friaries: a large church, cloister and residential offices.[9]

The church is a long nave and chancel. A residential tower was added to the west end in the 15th century. It contains five floors, some with window seats and garderobes.

There is a thirteenth-century window divided into five lights at the east gable which would have lit up the choir. There are also nine lancet windows in the south wall; the design appears to be copied from Ardfert Cathedral.

Below the nine south windows there are 5 niche tombs added in the later centuries.[10][11][12][13][14]

• 
  Nave and choir
• 
  Cloister walk
• 
  Cloister arcades
• 
  South window
• 
  Cloister and dormitory
• 
  Arms of Susan Ann Crosbie
• 
  Tomb niches
• 
  Tomb niches

References

1. "Ardfert Friary - TripAdvisor". www.tripadvisor.ie.
2. "Ardfert Friary founded 1253 by Anglo Norman Fitzmaurice clan - Ardfert Village". www.ardfert.ie.
3. "Holdings: Ardfert Abbey, Ardfert, Co. Kerry". catalogue.nli.ie.
4. Salter, Mike (22 September 2017). "Abbeys and Friaries of Ireland". Folly Publications – via Google Books.
5. Creighton, Mandell; Winsor, Justin; Gardiner, Samuel Rawson; Poole, Reginald Lane; Edwards, Sir John Goronwy (22 September 2017). "The English Historical Review". Oxford University Press – via Google Books.
6. King, Jeremiah (22 September 1986). "County Kerry past and present: a handbook to the local and family history of the county". Mercier Press – via Google Books.
7. Dublin.), James Fraser (of (22 September 2017). "Guide through Ireland" – via Google Books.
8. O'Laughlin, Michael C. (1 March 1999). "Families of Co. Kerry, Ireland". Irish Roots Cafe – via Google Books.
9. "Ardfert Cathedral and Abbey, County Kerry". 18 July 2013.
10. "Ardfert Franciscan Friary - Monastic Ireland". www.monastic.ie.
11. http://www.megalithicireland.com/Ardfert%20Friary.html
12. "Ardfert Franciscan Friary". irishantiquities.bravehost.com.
13. "Ardfert Friary: Ardfert, Co Kerry - Ireland Travel Kit". www.irelandtravelkit.com.
14. Toal, Caroline (15 December 1995). "North Kerry archaeological survey". Brandon – via Google Books.

External links

• Video on YouTube