Callan Augustinian Friary
Encyclopedia
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
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It is known locally as the "Abbey Meadow" and is located to the north-east of the town, on the banks of the Kings River
Kings River (Ireland)
The Kings River is a river in Ireland, flowing through South Tipperary and County Kilkenny. It is a tributary of the River Nore.It has its source in the Slieveardagh Hills in South Tipperary. It flows southeast from the hills and crosses into County Kilkenny. It is joined by the Munster River...
. The new Augustinian Friary located in the town via the river is connected to the Abbey.
History
Edmund Butler of Pottlerath, a noted patron of literature, successfully petitioned Pope Pius IIPope Pius II
Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
for the foundation of the friary in 1461
1461 in Ireland
-Deaths:*1 May - James Butler, 5th Earl of Ormonde, Lord Lieutenant ....
. After Edmund died in 1462, the actual buildings were erected by his son, James, probably after 1467 when he received a papal dispensation
Papal dispensation
Papal dispensation is a reserved right of the Pope that allows for individuals to be exempted from a specific Canon Law. Dispensations are divided into two categories: general, and matrimonial. Matrimonial dispensations can be either to allow a marriage in the first place, or to dissolve one...
to marry his concubine, to whom he was related.
In 1472 the friary became observant—its community adopted the fashion then spreading across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for the strictest observance of the monastic rules — and in 1479 it became the centre of the Irish Observant Congregation.
After it was closed (dissolved) and its lands confiscated by the order of Henry VIII in his campaign against the church, it passed into the hands of the Earls of Ormonde. A new monastery for the Augustinian friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
s was founded in the town of Callan in 1766
1766 in Ireland
The year 1766 in Ireland is characterised by certain events, arts and literature occurrences, births and deaths. For a fuller date context the year should be termed 1766 AD in Ireland.-Arts and literature:...
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The friary church is a long, rectangular building with a central bell-tower. The east end or choir, is lit by a fine east window and in its south wall is one of the finest sedelias (a seat for officiating priests) in Ireland.
The domestic buildings and the cloister court no longer survive. However, a freshwater well still remains on the grounds of the abbey.
See also
- List of National Monuments in County Kilkenny
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Kilkenny)