The Abbey — Multyfarnham

Attached Franciscan abbey, originally built c.1306, extended c.1450 with addition of crossing tower and transept (south), abandoned c.1650. Largely rebuilt from ruins c.1830 and renovated, c.1880, and extended and reordered c.1975, with reconstruction of chancel and addition of a modern sanctuary. Now comprising single-bay nave, two-bay chancel, two-bay transept to south and central three-stage crossing tower on square plan with battlemented parapet with Irish-style crenellations. Single-bay gable-fronted entrance porches to west end of nave and to west side of south transept. Pitched natural slate roofs with raised verges with stone coping, clay ridge tiles and cast-iron rainwater goods. Stone cross finials to nave and transept gables, decorative terracotta ridge cresting to transept. Constructed of coursed limestone rubble with cut limestone surrounds to openings and dressed limestone detailing. Pointed-arched openings with cut-stone tracery and hoodmouldings over. Single triple-light medieval window, c.1450, with reticulated tracery to transept gable. Window to chancel gable taken from Presbyterian church at Tully, Co. Longford and built into new chancel, c.1975. Pointed-arch opening to entrances porches with replacement glazed timber doors and overlights with stained glass over. Paired ogee-headed openings to belfry (second stage of crossing tower) with timber louvered vents. Church interior now stripped of any early render/plaster with exposed rubble limestone walls. A number of (moved) inscribed early seventeenth century memorial slabs remain to interior. Set back from road in mature landscaped grounds with monastery to north, a walled graveyard to south and gardens to west with stations of the cross.