Killydonnell Friary Graveyard

Killydonnell Friary (DG046-0170: Founded in 1471 by Calvagh O'Donnell for the Franciscan Third Order Regular the friary survived intact until suppressed c. 1603 when it was granted to Capt. Basil Brooke (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 272). The ivy-covered ruins consist of a church, comprising chancel, nave and S transept and the domestic buildings ranged around the N and E sides of an open court. Subsequent to the friary falling into ruins many of the walls were squared off and the faces repointed. The building may have been maintained by the Stewart family who converted the chamber to the N of the church (the sacristy) into a family burial vault. In consequence of this reparation, the building is difficult to interpret in all its details. The surviving evidence indicates that the domestic ranges are probably coeval with the main body of the church; the transept is probably a later addition. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008