Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
A History of the Franciscan Order in Ireland (Author: Donagh Mooney)

Subsection 18

Clonmel

The convent of Clonmel, in the diocese of Waterford and Lismore, occupies a delightful position on the bank of the Suir, in an angle formed by the walls. The Earl of Desmond is said to have been the founder but the citizens claim that honour for themselves. At the dissolution of the monasteries the Earl of Ormond obtained possession of the convent and buildings belonging to it, while the church, cemetery, and sacristy were granted to the citizens. The church is still in good repair, and holds the burial places of many illustrious personages.


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Among others that of the Baron of Cahir, whose monument, constructed of marble, and embellished with images and statues, rises high in the centre of the choir. In my time a heretic, who held the office of magistrate in the town, and who was an notorious priest hunter, selected a burial-place for himself in the church, and was actually interred beside the seat of the priest and sacred ministers, close to the high altar. Certain Jesuits and other ecclesiasts residing in the town were consenting parties to this and connived at the profanation. Even the friars made no protest, being prevented, from the machinations of the others. Thus through their carelessness the sacred place, which had hitherto escaped pollution, was desecrated. For they permitted this burial to take place, or, at least, as they themselves confess, remained silent, fearing a great evil, whereas if they had spoken even once it would not have been done. When I was on my visitation of the Province in 1615, I had the body exhumed by night, and removed to consecrated ground. I then purified the place with Holy Water, having first sought permission from the Archbishop.60

The church is much frequented by the citizen, who there meet in prayer. On Sundays and festivals the magistrates, as well as the people assemble with great devotion, and make the Station, as they call it, when offerings or alms are contributed for the souls of the dead. These are received by persons appointed for the purpose who afterwards expend them in the preservation of the church buildings, and in support of the priests and the poor. This custom has existed from time immemorial, but the distribution of the portion of the offerings among the priests and the poor is believed to have commenced with the introduction of the Heresy, for before that time the clergy had property of their own and even now it is given them in a private way. It is therefore easy of belief that this pious custom was originally instituted for the purpose of keeping the conventual buildings in repair or for the benefit of the friars themselves. This is the reason why these


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other ecclesiastics are unwilling to have the Franciscans take up again their residence in the town. For twice, in my recollection, members of the Order were appointed to Clonmel, and were refused admittance by the citizens, acting, it is thought, under their influence. The Jesuits have even alleged that they had obtained a grant of the convent from the Pope, but this attempt has been frustrated, and will be frustrated again if renewed.

It is thought with much probability that all the buildings from Kilsheelan Street, as it is called, to the way known by name of Suir-Quay-Gate-Street, belonged to the convent, and that the secular houses along these streets were built by the permission of the friars. This can be reasonably inferred from the position of the houses round the convent; also from the fact that some of the workshops of the monastery, as the bakery and such like, are found among these buildings. Again, the foundation deed of one of the houses which overlooks the cemetery, contains a clause guaranteeing free access and passing from the street to the cemetery and monastery; moreover, these houses have neither garden or court-yards, but stand round the precincts of the monastery between the streets and the convent grounds.61 The mill at the gate and the bakery close by also formed part of the possession of the friars. These were called the Earl's mill and fishery. The large house near the convent, known by the name of the Earl's Court,62 is also supposed to have been their property. For it


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was customary among the Irish nobles to erect edifices of this sort as places of retreat, within the bounds of monasteries of which they were the founders, and hand them over to the friars, that they might be always kept in the readiness for their reception. Some, however say that this house never belonged to the monastery.

All the buildings except those mentioned above, as being in possession of the citizens, and the cloister, have fallen into ruin. The Earl of Ormond has put in repair, a rather small portion of what was formerly the infirmary, which he has for a dwelling-house with the garden adjoining. This has fallen to the share of Helen de Barry, widow of the late Earl of Ormond, and now married to Sir Thomas Somerset. I went to her with the request that she would bestow the place on the friars, but she refused to hear me, acting it may be on some such opinion, as I have alluded to when treating of Cashel. Mass is sometimes celebrated and sermons preached in the church. A citizen, notwithstanding my opposition, has constructed a burial place for himself in one of the chapels, in the very spot where stood a wooden Altar, on which I have often seen the holy sacrifice offered. I promised to keep fast memory of this, that in happier times the brethren may know what ought to be done.

A statue of St. Francis was preserved in the sacristy for a long time after the destruction of the images in the church. It was remarked, and proved by many miracles, that if anyone swore falsely, by St. Francis, in presence of this statue, God immediately made known the truth by some sign. I heard this from many trustworthy persons. A certain matron of Clonmel made oath before me that she was present when a women suspected of having stolen some article of dress, was brought before the statue, and there swore the charge was false. At that moment it dropped from her in the sight of all the by-standers. Repenting of her theft and perjury she confessed her guilt, and publicly declared that she had concealed the garment in a place far distant, and that it was only by the Divine Power that it could have been carried hither.


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I have no information regarding the friars of Clonmel, except that I have read in an ancient manuscript that they took possession of the convent in 1269. A priest named Maurice, who was put to death for the faith by the heretics in Clonmel in 1589, was interred here. His relics were placed at the back of the Altar.