St. Dominicks Castle and Abbey — Naas West

Although marked 'Augustinian Abbey (Site of)' (KD019-030011-) just NW of the motte (KD019-030009-) on the latest ed. (1938-9) of the OS 6-inch map, according to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 4, 366-70), this is incorrect and the monument near the motte, 'is almost certainly the site of the Dominican friary', founded by the FitzEustace family between c. 1335 and 1356. Little else is, however, known of its history. An inquisition of 1540 mentions a church and belfry, a chapter house and a hall. In that year also, the priory is described as being, 'by the Mote of Naas'. In 1781, Cooper described the remains as consisting of, 'a small square steeple supported on an arch & adjoining on the north side, are the side walls; of what part I cannot say; but a more ruinous pile, I never yet have seen' (Price 1942, 26). In 1791, Grose (1791, ii, 27) recorded that, 'the belfry is entered by a Gothic arch, on each side of which is a staircase leading up to the rooms, in number three.' The OSL (Herity 2002, 52 (156)) noted that, 'Within this graveyard (KD019-030021-) there formerly stood an Abbey, the tower belonging to which, being popularly called "Abbey Castle" was entirely demolished two years ago' (i.e. 1835). The friars may have moved to a new location (KD019-030039-), on the N side of Canal St., c. 250m to the SSE, in the 17th c. (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 228) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011