Castlelyons Friary

Castlelyons Friary is a former Carmelite Priory and National Monument located in County Cork, Ireland.[1]

Castlelyons Friary
Prióireacht Chaisleán Ó Liatháin
East wing
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other namesCastelio, Castleyhane, Castelleaghan, Castrileonensis
OrderCarmelites
Established1307–09 / 1324
Disestablished1760
DioceseCloyne
People
Founder(s)John de Barry, 4th Baron Barry
Architecture
Statusruined
StyleNorman
Site
LocationMohera, Castlelyons, County Cork
Coordinates52.089148°N 8.233480°W / 52.089148; -8.233480
Public accessyes
Official nameCastlelyons Friary
Reference no.411

Location

Castlelyons Friary is located 6.6 km (4.1 mi) south-southeast of Fermoy, south of the Munster Blackwater.[2]

History

The Carmelite friary was founded at Castlelyons c. 1307–09 by John de Barry, 4th Baron Barry, during the reign of Edward II as Lord of Ireland. He had been granted license by the king to alienate land for the Carmelites of Drogheda on 11 August 1309, but was without papal license until Pope John XXII granted one in 1324, and then the friary could be built. Later the friary was granted 20 marks (£13 6 s. 8 d.) per annum to be taken from the people of the town.

The friary name has no connection to Lyon or lions; it derives from the ancient kingdom of Uí Liatháin in which it lies.

Originally the friary had just a small church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Later it was extended westwards by a nave, cloister and tower.

It was dissolved in 1541 during Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries and annexed to the crown in 1561. The land was granted to James de Barry, 4th Viscount Buttevant in 1568.

In 1638 windows were taken from Castlelyons and placed in Lismore Cathedral. Ariybd this time Castlelyons was granted to Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork; he in turn gave it to his daughter Alice (1607–1667).

In 1683 Laurence Barry, 3rd Earl of Barrymore granted Castlelyons Friary to the Dominican Order.[3][4]

The friary was re-established in 1737. The last prior, John O'Neil, died in 1760. It was later used as a hedge school.

When it was visited by John Windele in the mid-19th century the locals were using the nave to play handball.[5]

Some restoration was done by the Office of Public Works in the 1930s.[6][7]

Building

The surviving buildings, mostly dating to the 15th century,[8] are the nave, half the tower, parts of the dormitory. In the chancel there is a stone altar. In the west gable is a pointed doorway. Above it is a two-light window with ogee heads.[9]

  • Castlelyons Friary
  • View of nave
  • Remnants of the cloister
  • Tower and dormitory
  • West window
  • Tower
  • Costume of a Carmelite friar (French illustration, 1811)

References
  1. "Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society". The Society. 17 July 1962 – via Google Books.
  2. Salter, Mike (17 July 2017). Abbeys and Friaries of Ireland. Folly Publications. ISBN 9781871731842 – via Google Books.
  3. Mould, Daphne Desiree Charlotte Pochin (17 July 2017). "The Irish Dominicans: The Friars Preachers in the History of Catholic Ireland". Dominican Publications – via Google Books.
  4. Tibus, Website design and development by. "Castlelyons Dominican Friary - Attractions - Churches, Abbeys and Monasteries - All Ireland - Republic of Ireland - Cork - Castlelyons - Discover Ireland". www.discoverireland.ie.
  5. Past, Ed Hannon-Visions of the (10 July 2017). "Castlelyons Friary, Cork, Ireland".
  6. "Castlelyons Carmelite Priory - Monastic Ireland". www.monastic.ie.
  7. "Castlelyons Friary". www.irishstones.org.
  8. Crowl, Philip Axtell (17 July 1990). The Intelligent Traveller's Guide to Historic Ireland. Contemporary Books. ISBN 9780809240623 – via Google Books.
  9. "Castlelyons Dominican Friary". irishantiquities.bravehost.com.
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