Abbey (Site of) — Mullingar

The Urban Survey of Westmeath (Bradley et. al. 1985, 119-20) recorded that the Dominican Priory was founded in 1237 by the Petit family (Fenning 1964, 106-07). The Dominicans held chapters here in 1278, 1292, 1308 and 1314 (Fenning 1964, 188) which would suggest that it was house of some importance. An indulgence of 1432 granted in aid of the repair of the church mentions that 'forty professed friars' used be maintained by the house but noted that the priory had 'suffered so much from long wars and other calamities that hardly eight in priest’s orders reside therein, and that the buildings of the church and house themselves are threatened with ruin' (Cal. papal letters 1909, 446). In 1540 the extent of the priory noted that the thatched roof of the church was ruinous although the stone walls and window (sic) were 'in sufficient repair' (White 1943, 290-1). It also noted a stone tower and other buildings 'lately inhabited by the friars' but now 'in decay and unoccupied' within the precinct, which was surrounded by a stone wall. The priory was granted to Sir Gerald Fitzgerald of Croyboy in 1548 (White 1943, 291) and to Thomas Gorie in 1564 (Morrin 1861, 491). In 1541, however, the site of the priory was set aside for a new gaol (WM019-089007-) (Fenning 1964, 112) and this was carried into effect in 1566 when the site was granted to Walter Hope, a Dublin merchant, on condition that he build a gaol of which he was to be constable (11 Rep Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland 139, 932). In 1566, Walter Hope, a merchant in Dublin was granted lands 'in consideration that he shall build a gaol (WM019-089007-) in the town of Mollingar, county Westmeath, with stocks, locks, bolts, chains, handlocks, and other things necessary for the safe custody of prisoners, at his own expense ; of the office of constable of the said gaol; also of the site of the house of friars preachers (WM019-089004-) of Mollingar with appurtenances, and the rectories of Vastina (WM032-014003-) and Churchetowne (WM025-011----), parcel of the possessions of the priory of Mollingar. To hold for ever in fee-farm, by the service of a twentieth part of a knight's fee, at a rent of 40s. for the friary, and of &8 for the rectories, and maintaining curates in the churches. Grantee and his heirs to reside in the gaol, and to keep it in repair or forfeit £10 after due notice’ (Nicholls 1994, 109). In 1667 the confirmation of a land grant to Sir Arthur Forbes under the Acts of Settlement and Explanation described the monument as 'one Castle (WM019-089008-) & Hall thereunto adjoining the Dominican Abbey consisting of 5 House-rooms with closes & Parks consisting of 10a of meadow' (NLI p 1895). In 1682 Sir Henry Piers recorded that ‘Here were anciently two monasteries, one whereof was a priory of Canons regular (WM019-089009-), founded by Ralph le Petit, Bishop of Meath, the other a convent of friars predicant (WM019-089004-); one of these stood in the east end of the town, the other on the west end of the town, the ruins of which are this day scarcely visible' (Vallancey 1786, 77). Piers (1981, 77 n) noted that 'part of bell-tower and some other ruins' of the priory survived in 1682 and that the sixteenth century gaol had been recently replaced. In 1786 the Dominican Friary was described as ‘part of the bell-tower, and some other ruins of this building still remains’ (Wilson 1786, 37). In 1884-5 it was recorded that at ‘the time of Archdall’s visiting the place, only the bell-tower and some other unimportant ruins ruins remained; and at a later period, only some crumbling walls existed in a garden at the town’s outskirts’ (Anon, 1846, 828). A grant of the site to Thomas Hope in 1609 notes that the site was bounded on the north by the High Street and West Gate, on the south by the River Brosna and Commons of Mullingar, on the east by Blinde Street and on the west by the Commons (Erck 1846-52, 725). This clearly identifies the site as occupying the south-west corner of the town (WM019-089----) where it is correctly shown on the O.S. map. The site is now an open space used as a car-park. A stone lined well, possibly associated with the priory, is in the back-yard of the second shop on the south side of Dominick St. The seal matrix of the priory, depicting the Holy Trinity, and dating to the fifteenth/sixteenth century is in the National Museum of Ireland (O’Floinn 1978-9). The Dominicans returned to Mullingar in the seventeenth century and a chalice presented to the community in 1648 is kept in the Dominican Friary, Dorset Street, Dublin (Fenning 1966, 308). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien and R. Barrett Date of upload: 3 June 2014