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

Subsection 19

{journal issue 6:6}

p.161

Carrig-on-Suir

The convent was built near the river Suir. On the opposite bank stands the town of Carraig-on-Suir, which contains the chief residence of the Earl of Ormond. It is said, on what authority I know not, that this house of the Earl was erected on the monastery of St. Clare. Our convent is on the other side of the river, and was never entirely finished. At first the friars lived in a castle belonging to James Butler, the Earl of Ormond, who received the title from Edward III, King of England, in 1328. He granted this residence to the Conventual Franciscans in 1336. They entered into possession that same year, on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul. Brother Stephen de Barry was then Provincial, Brother William Naish, Custos, and Brother John Glya, Guardian, The last was the author of the Chronicle63 which bears his


p.162

name, and from which I have taken the above particulars. The friars built a church, dormitory, and cloister which were of no great size. The other buildings were never completed. The tower64 of the ancient castle still stands. Some fields in the neighbourhood belonged to the convent, but now all have fallen into the hands of the Earl of Ormond.