| Mainistir Átha Í | |
  Location within Ireland | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Bailr-atha-ai; Athai; Athies |
| Order | Dominican Order |
| Established | 1253 |
| Disestablished | mid-19th century |
| Diocese | Dublin |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Boysel and Hogan family |
| Architecture | |
| Status | ruined |
| Style | Norman |
| Site | |
| Location | St Michael's, Athy, County Kildare |
| Coordinates | 52°59′26″N 6°59′00″W / 52.990694°N 6.983284°W / 52.990694; -6.983284 |
| Public access | yes |
Athy Priory is a former friary of the Dominican Order located in Athy, Ireland.
Location
Athy Priory is located in the south of the town, on the east bank of the River Barrow.
History
Athy Priory was founded by the Boiseles (Boysel) and Hogans in 1253, although some sources give the date as 1257. John of Slane gave them six acres, and Edward II consented to this grant. In 1288, 1295 and 1305, chapters of the order were held at Athy.
The priory was dissolved 30 April 1539 and rented to Martin Pelles, constable of Athy, on 26 April 1540. At that time, the priory owned two fishing-weirs, a water mill, while the buildings were a church and belfry, chapter-house, dormitory, hall, three chambers and a kitchen, a cemetery, garden and orchard. In 1588 the priory was granted to Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare.
Athy was refounded c.1622 by Fr Ross Mageoghegan. Friars also returned in 1754.
The chapel was enlarged 1864-7 but the priory was dissolved mid-19th century.
A new church was built and opened 17 March 1965. The old church was demolished in 1973. A library was later built on the site.
References
- "Kildare Nationalist — Former Dominican priory to open as emergency accommodation for families". 28 April 2017.
- French, Robert (1865). "Dominican Friary, Athy, Co. Kildare". catalogue.nli.ie.
- Brewer, James Norris (1826). The Beauties of Ireland: Being Original Delineations, Topographical, Historical, and Biographical, of Each County. Sherwood, Jones, & Company. p. 40 – via Internet Archive.
Athy friary.
- Ware, Sir James (23 December 2018). "The Antiquities and History of Ireland". A. Crook – via Google Books.
- Archdall, Mervyn (23 December 1876). Monasticon Hibernicum: Or, A History of the Abbeys, Priories, and Other Religious Houses in Ireland; Interspersed with Memoirs of Their Several Founders and Benefactors, and of Their Abbots and Other Superiors, to the Time of Their Final Suppression. W. B. Kelly. p. 250 – via Internet Archive.
Athy friary.
- County Kildare :County Kildare Archaeological Society; County Kildare Archaeological Society (28 January 1891). "Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society" – via Internet Archive.
- "DOMINICAN ORDER IN ATHY – SEVEN CENTURIES OF SERVICE". www.kildare.ie.
- "History of Athy". Irish Walled Towns Network. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- Now, Kildare. "Iconic €4m Athy Library unveiled this morning in former Dominican Priory". Kildare Now. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.