site of Abbey

In 1460 Donal Reagh Kavanagh founded a friary for Observant Franciscans at Enniscorthy. Little is known about it except that it was supressed in 1541 when its buildings were leased to the Earl of Ormond. At that time it was described as a church with a bellfry, a chapter-house, dormitory, hall, four chambers, a kitchen, two orchards and three gardens. In 1582 Henry Wallop destroyed the house, and in 1595 it was granted to him with the Manor of Enniscorthy (Gwynne and Hadcock 1970, 250). A tower remained standing until 1839 (Ffrench 1895, 407-08). It was located in the block S of Abbey Square and between Mill Park Road and the river. There are no visible remains of it but a fireplace now built into the wall of a warehouse (WX020-070----) c. 200m to the SW may have come from it, but it is more likely to have come from the castle (WX020-031002-). (Hore 1900-11, vol. 6, 354-5) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 31 May, 2012