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Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



side wall, with large plain windows, various other fragments of build- 

 ings, pillars, capitals (probably of a cloister arcade), and portions of 

 carved tombs, and a fireplace remain, k. detailed description, with 

 a plan and illustrations, is a desideratum. See Lenihan, "Limerick," 

 pp. 646-653.^ 



16. The Peanciscan Convent.— It is said to have been founded, 

 either by Donchad Cairbreach O'Brien, before 1241, ^ by " W. Fion 

 de Burgo," who died 1287, or by a certain "Mary, Countess of 

 Desmond, 1350." The older writers, however, mention the burials of 

 Sir Thomas and SirEichard de Clare within its walls, 1287 and 1318 ; 

 so the later "founders" (as so often) may have been restorers. For 

 its dissolution, see Inquis., xxxiii Hen. YIII. It was granted to 

 Humphry Sexten in 1545 (Eiant 456). Site — It is carefully shown 

 in the " 1590" map. There was a large massive tower with three- 

 stepped battlements and a side turret, besides several low buildings. 

 It stood east of and outside the city walls, near the Abbey river. 

 Father Honat Mooney about the same time describes its site as 

 " delightful," lying to the south of the Dominican House and north 

 of the Holy Cross, and it had extensive orchards and gardens. The 

 walls were still standing, though unroofed, and were of poor masonry, 

 but the ruins were spacious. Its first founder was the " Baron of 

 Castleconnell, or one of his family," and it was the de Burgos' burial- 

 place. A Protestant named Sexten held it. It was a mere refuse 

 heap, and used for a tannery ; the records and precious movables 

 were lost, but a few of its friars rented a house in the city.^ Bishop 

 Pococke, in 1752, saw " an old convent turned into a tanyard " at the 

 site ("Tour," ed. Stokes, p. 114). Some of its vaults and graves 

 were found under a corn store on Sand Mall. These have entirely 

 disappeared. The east window was removed in 1789 to St. George's 

 Church, and thence to St. Michael's, but has been taken out. The 

 county courthouse was built on the site.* 



Another Franciscan church is said to have stood in Mary's Lane, 

 whence a very curious window, now set in Kilrush (Old Church), and 

 a piscina and font were removed. Flate — Two chalices, 1619 and 



1 See 1590 view, Plate III. 



2 A deed of the Abbot of May (Monasternenagh) to David Long, circa 1210, 

 witnessed by Symon Hereward, Mayor of Limerick, mentions lands from the 

 new Gate of Limerick, " ad aream fratrum minorum." 



3 Published in the Franciscan Tertiary, v., p. 253. 

 ^ See 1590 view, Plate XII. 



