Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

A History of the Franciscan Order in Ireland (Author: Donagh Mooney)

Subsection 4

The Province of Tuam

The ecclesiastical province of Tuam contains part of Connaught only, two dioceses of which belong to Armagh, and two to Cashel. The episcopal sees are as follow: —

1. Tuam.
2. Mayo.
3. Annaghdown, near Galway. These three have been united for a long time. The last bishop of mayo was Patrick O’'Hely, of whom mention is made in the chronicles of the Order. He received the glorious crown of martyrdom, along with his companion, Conor O’'Rorke, also a Franciscan, at Kilmallock, in Munster, in 1570, by orders of William Drury, Lord Justice of Ireland under Queen Elizabeth. We will have occasion to speak of this hereafter. The present Archbishop of Tuam is Florence Conry, also a member of our Order. He was formerly Provincial of Ireland. We will also speak of him later on.
4. Clonfert. The last bishop was Teige O’'Farrell, a Dominican. He died at Kinsale, in 1601, while the Spanish troops, whom he and the Archbishop of Dublin were mainly instrumental in having sent to Ireland, to assist in carrying on the war for the Catholic faith, were closely besieged in that town by the English.
5. Killala.
6. Achonry. The last bishop was Own O’'Hart, who assisted at the Council of Trent. I met him in 1597. He was then far advanced in years, but withal, full of vigour.
7. Elphin.¹³ I know nothing of this diocese.

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8. Kilmacduagh. The last bishop was Malachy O’'Molony, who died about 1610, at an advanced age. He had ruled his diocese for many years in times of persecution, and had suffered imprisonment and other outrages at the hands of the Protestants.¹⁴

Thus far I have jotted down what occurs to my memory regarding the dioceses of Ireland. Others may add facts of more importance. I do not presume on the extent of my knowledge, but can safely say that I have written nothing but what I have ascertained to be true.

I will now give the number and names of the convents of our Order in Ireland, pointing out the province, according to the ancient division of the country, and the county, according to the new, as well as the dioceses in which each is situated. I will then describe their condition in this present year, 1617, and set forth what particulars I have been able to collect regarding the founders and date of foundation of each. Let me first place before you the account of the province given by Bartholomew de Pisis in his Liber Conformitatum. Lib. Primus. Fructus et conformitas.¹⁵ Many of the names, as it will be seen, are given in corrupt form. These I have corrected.

The province of Ireland is divided into five custodies. In the custody of Dalbinensis (Dublin) are the following convents: Dubina (Dublin), Kaldaria (Kildare), Clana (Clane), De Mortoto (Stradbally)¹⁶, Deserti (Castledermot), Bachilo (Wicklow), Veiesercfordia (Wexford).

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In the custody of Cashel are the convents of Casello (Cashel), Bullienia (I do not know to what place he refers unless it be Kilkenny¹⁷), Jochil (Youghal), Ross, Vacripordia (Waterford) and Clonmel.

In the custody of Cork are those of Cortigia ( Cork), Ardach ( Ardfert), Bachonia ( Buttevant), Luecia (Ath—¹⁸) and Timoleague.

The following convents belong to the custody of Nenagh: Venath ( Nenagh), Clararoi (Clare-Galway¹⁹), Killeigh, Galway, Clonramada (Ennis), Blessivia (I do not know this place; I think it is Cavan²⁰) and Armagh.

The following belong to the custody of Drogheda: De Ponte (Drogheda), Trun (Trim), Dundava (Dundalk), Malifarnam (Multifernam), Dunri (Down), Occagfregis (Carrickfergus).

I have thought it well to quote Pisanus thus far to show that these convents had been founded in his time, but he does not mention all. I will prove later on that he has omitted some which existed at that date, or has written their names in such a corrupt form that they cannot be identified. We can easily understand how scanty his information on the subject must have been.

I quote the following also from Pisanus: — ‘In this province of Ireland rest the remains of Nicholas de Gaulford (Waterford), who foretold the day of his death to his brethren’ and John de Vassordia (Wexford), at whose grave the sick were restored to health, and the slain to life.’

I find in an old manuscript²¹ written by Fr. John Clyn,

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This Fr. John Clyn belonged to the Conventual branch of the Order, and was guardian²² of the convent of Carrick-on-Suir, which was given to us by James Butler, first Earl of Ormond, in 1336. Fr. Stephen de Barry was then Provincial, and William Naish, Custos. This was many years before the reform had been introduced.

I will now give as complete a list of the convents of our Order in Ireland as my information allows, assigning each to the province in which it is situated.

1. ULSTER.
   There are eight Franciscan Convents in Ulster: — Drogheda, Dundalk, Monaghan, Armagh, Carrickfergus, Downpatrick, Donegal and Lisgoole.
2. CONNAUGHT.
   There are twelve convents in Connnaught: — Ballyrourke, called in Latin, Petra Patritii²³; Cavan, Elphin, Moyne, Rosserilly, Baile-an-Chlair²⁴, Galway, Kilconnell, Meelick, Kinalekin and Ennis.²⁵.
3. MUNSTER.
   There are twenty convents in the two Munsters: — Limerick, Adare, Asketin, Lislaghlin, Ardfert, Bantry, Sherkin Island, Irrelagh,²⁶Timoleague, Kilcrea, Cork, Buttevant or Kilnamulla, Youghal, Gallbally-Aherlow, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Waterford, Cashel, Roscrea, and Nenagh.
4. LEINSTER.
   There are twelve convents in Leinster: — New Ross, Kilkenny, Enniscorthy, Wexford, Castledermot, Stradbally, Killeigh, Kildare, Kilcullen, Clane, Dublin, Wicklow, and Monasteroris.²⁷
5. MEATH.
   There are only three convents in Meath: — Trim, Multifernam, and Athlone.

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The Convents of the Province of Munster