Westropp — Ancient CInirches in Co, Limerick. 349 



Rev. Jasper "White compiled a full list of the dignities and their 

 "benefices before 1652, he being precentor of the cathedral during the 

 Confederate Government. It is given by Lenihan in Limerick,'^ 

 p. 565, and need not be repeated. The dignities of the latter days 

 of the establishment, 1 826, may be found in Fitzgerald and Macgregor's 

 History. 



XIY. The jMon'asteeies. — The earliest and only noteworthy 

 monasteries in County Limerick before the twelfth century were — 

 Mungret, founded by jS'essan, c. 530 ; Cluan Credhail or Killeedy, by Ita, 

 c. 550 ; and perhaps Kilmallock, about 610. The numerous others, so 

 uncritically collected in the received monasticons, were, as a rule, mere 

 churches. After the Danish period, we meet no important foundation 

 till King Thoirdhealbhath O'Brien founded IMonasternenagh, S.Maria 

 de Magio,^ for Cistercians in 1148, to commemorate his victory 

 over the Danes near its site ; it was daughter of Meliifont. After the 

 Norman Invasion, the !N'ormans began eagerly to found monasteries, 

 and were emulated by the Irish chieftains. The Cistercian cell of 

 Feal, jS'ephillagh, or Abbeyfeale, a daughter of Magio, was founded 

 1 188. The great Cistercian House of Uaithne, Wetheney, or Owney, 

 was founded by Thomas Lord Carrick in 1205, and was a daughter of 

 Savignac. The hospital of Aney was founded for Knights of St. John 

 of Jerusalem, by Geffrey de Marisco in 1215. An Augustinian 

 Abbey seems to have been founded by King Donaldmore O'Brien in 

 Limerick City before 1194, and another of Canons Kegular, by Simon 

 " Minor," in the same city. Somewhere between 1220 and 1240, 

 King Donchad Cairbreach O'Brien founded a Dominican house in 

 Limerick, and Franciscan convents there and at Galbally. 

 St. Katherine's Convent of Augustinian Canonesses, in Oconyll (at 

 Manisternagalliach, near Foynes), and the Trinitarian Monastery of 

 Adare, were probably founded about 1240, and the Aroasian House of 

 Eathkeale about 1280. The Dominican House of Kilmallock was 

 established by Gilbert, son of Lord Offaly, in 1291 ; the Augustinian 

 House of Adare by the Earl of Kildare in 1315-17. The Franciscans 

 were planted at Askeaton between 1389 and 1420 by the Earls of 

 Desmond ; and at Adare by Thomas, Earl of Kildare, in 1464. The 

 lesser foundations will be noticed in the body of the survey.- 



1 Probably "of the plain," Magb, not the Maigue, for it was some distance 

 from that river on a tributary, the Canimoge. 



2 The charters of Monasternenagh (1186 and 1200), Wetheney (1205), and the 

 Augustinian House at Adare (1317) are extant. The "C.S.P.I.," vol. iii.. No. 962, 



