Adare Friary

The Adare Friary, located in Adare, County Limerick, Ireland, formerly known as the Black Abbey, is an Augustinian Friary founded in 1316 by the Earl of Kildare. It is now known as St. Nicholas' Church of Ireland parish church, and school.

History

The Augustinian friars first came to Dublin from England in about 1260. They were invited to Adare by John FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare, in 1316 and given land and houses in the town. [ Lodge, John, & Archdall, Mervyn, A.M., "The Peerage of Ireland", Dublin, vol.1, 1789: 79]

By 1541 the Augustinians owned nearly 80 acres of land, several cottages and gardens in the village and a fishing weir on the river. As part of the Tudor suppression of Irish Monasteries at the end of the 16th century, the Augustinians were driven out of Adare and had moved to Limerick City by 1633.

Many of the features of the friary are very well preserved, particularly the small 15th century cloister and sedilia.

In 1814 the refectory (dining area) of the friary was rebuilt as a school which is still used today. The Dunraven family continued restoration work on the friary through the 19th century.

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