Ross Errilly Friary

The monastery Ross Errilly (also Rosserrilly, Rosseriall Friary, Ross Friary, irish Mainistir to Rois, Mainistir Oirialaigh Ros ) is a former Franciscan monastery in the far north of County Galway in Ireland.

Ruins of Ross Friary Errilly are about two kilometers northwest of Headford and about 150 meters from the Black River, which flows six kilometers further into Lough Corrib (lake). The river forms the border between the counties of Galway and Mayo.

Ross Errilly is one of the better -preserved medieval Franciscan monasteries in the country. The church with a central square bell tower ( 1498 ) belongs to the monastery. Among the almost completely preserved on the ground floor exterior walls of the monastery rooms, a kitchen ( with oven and a water tank for fish), a bakery and the refectory, the dining room where the monks are identifiable. A special feature of Franciscan monasteries forming a second courtyard. The dormitories of the monks were on the upper, non-preserved level. Like other abandoned Christian sites in Ireland, also the site of the Church of Ross Errilly has been used as a cemetery. In addition to those of the active period of the Friary can be found to the 20th centuries within the Church graves from the 18th. In some cases there are grave slabs on the ground.

History

On the basis of the Annals of the Four Masters, the monastery was founded in 1351 by Raymond de Burgho from a local Cambro - Norman family and extended during the 15th century. The history of the Franciscans of Ross Errilly is characterized by expulsions, persecution and reconstruction.

  • In 1538, the British occupying forces killed an undetermined number of monks who stood in opposition to Henry the VIII.
  • At the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558, the abbey to Richard Sassanach Burgh, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde (d. 1582) was given. This descendant of the founder they returned to the Franciscans.
  • In 1584 the English crown confiscated the monastery again and gave it to a nobleman, who expelled the monks and the buildings plundered. Already in 1586 bought the Earl of Clanrickarde the Friary and gave it back again to the Franciscans.
  • At the end of the 16th century drove the crown of the monks again and used the monastery as a garrison. In 1604, an Earl of Ross Clanrickarde Errilly returns again and is financing the restoration.
  • 1612 calls Arthur Chichester to the Archbishop of Tuam, William Daniel, close to the Abbey and to expel the monks.
  • In 1626, eight monks come back to Ross Errilly and enjoy a quarter-century of relative peace.
  • During the campaigns of Oliver Cromwell in Ireland Ross Errilly served as a refuge for the Catholic clergy, who had been expelled from other parts of Ireland. On August 10, 1656 reached Cromwell's men Ross Errilly and destroyed it. The 140 clerics had fled hours earlier. Legend has it that the monks before the bell brought from the tower and buried in the nearby Black River, where she lies to this day.
  • In 1660 Charles II ascended the throne in England. Its nominal tolerant policy allowed the repair of the abbey in 1664.
  • The Revolution of 1688 led to renewed persecution of the Catholic clergy. Again Ross Errilly was abandoned.
  • The records show that the monks were back in 1712, the abbey in 1731 but left again for some unknown reason. It is certain that they came back again in 1753. The property is now owned Lord St. George, a local nobleman. At that time, the Penal Laws in force and St. George risked his life when he supported the monks. He has been displayed, learned of the indictment and the monks evacuated the monastery for the last time.
  • They built on a small island in the Black River, about a mile downriver to a new home. The island ( which no longer exists ), was known as " monk's Island ". For 36 years, they celebrated Sunday Mass in the old abbey buildings. Until 1801, the number of monks fell to three, although the exhibition were read on a regular basis until 1804. 1832 ended the community's use of Ross Errilly. Geographer Samuel Lewis noted in 1837 in his topographical dictionary of Ireland, " one of the windows is still completely intact," but the roof had already collapsed in 1812.
County Mayo
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