Ennis Friary

When you walk around Ennis Friary, it can be hard to get a sense of scale, but if it helps you to understand it, consider that records show that in 1375 it was the home and workplace for 350 friars and 600 students. Founded in 1241, this Franciscan abbey, a famous seat of learning in medieval times, made Ennis a focal point of western Europe for many years. It was finally forced to close in 1692, and thereafter fell into ruin, but it's been partly restored, and contains many beautifully sculpted medieval tombs, decorative fragments, and carvings, including the famous McMahon tomb, with its striking representations of the Passion. The nave and chancel are the oldest parts of the friary, but other structures, such as the 15th-century tower, transept, and sacristy, are also rich in architectural detail. It's run by the Irish historical preservation group, Dúchas, which offers entertaining and informative tours in the summer. Note: Recently the friary's opening hours have been variable -- call before making a special trip.

Ennis Friary is located in Abbey St., Ennis. To communicate or ask something with the place, the Phone number is +353 65 682 9100. The coordinates that you can use in navigation applications to get to find "Ennis Friary" quickly are 52.84481048584,-8.9823398590088