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Why this matters

A local church or high cross; wider significance not recorded.

Overview

Abbey — Athlone is recorded as Religious house — Franciscan friars in Westmeath. The Annals of the Four Masters record the founding of the monastery (WM029-042042-) of St. Francis at Athlone by Cathal Crobderg O Conchobhair in 1224 but this date has been rejected by Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 243) on the basis that the Franciscans did not arrive in Ireland until c.1224-6, when their first house was established at Youghal. The consecration of the church of the Friars Minor of Athlone in 1241 by Albert of Cologne, archbishop of Armagh, suggests that it was not founded until c. 1240 (Ann.

Foundation and growth

The saved account records: The church was rebuilt as part of the park clean up scheme in the 1980s and the graveslabs were removed from their location and placed around the walls and along both sides of the lane to the south and west of the church.

People and events

The saved account records: Grannell (1978, 13) recorded the tradition that the 13th century Francsican Friary (WM029-042042-) may have been located on the W side of Northgate St., on part of the site of the 19th century Athlone Woollen Mills also known as the 'Shannon Mills' (Murtagh 1994, 9,12).

Damage, loss and survival

The saved account records: The friary was apparently destroyed in 1567-8 and its site was leased to Andrew Brereton of Monketon, Co. Meath, in 1570 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 243).

Why it mattered

Abbey — Athlone matters because the source ties religious house — franciscan friars to this exact landscape and preserves evidence that a bare map name loses. The saved account adds: The east wall appears to have been completely rebuilt and the only features are two post-medieval recesses constructed to accomodate wall-memorials.

History checked 15 August 2026 against the named sources below.

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