The Monastery

Detached five-bay two-storey monastery, built in 1854, with flanking projecting gable-fronted bays to east and west and returns and extensions. Situated within its own grounds with outbuildings to east, walled garden to north-east and graveyard to north. Pitched tiled roofs with terracotta ridge tiles, tooled stone chimneystacks, cast-iron rainwater goods. Limestone coping to gables with carved stone cross finials. Snecked limestone walls with plinth and eaves courses. Smooth render to east elevation and rear. Replacement uPVC windows with tooled stone sills and hoodmouldings to ground floor. Pointed-arched double-height window openings to projecting bays with stone tracery and hoodmouldings. Stained glass windows to chapel to west. Quatrefoil window openings to projecting gables. Pointed-arched door opening with tooled stone surround, hoodmoulding and tooled stone threshold. Timber panelled door with decorative fanlight. Carved stone plaque above door. Monument to south of Saint Francis with limestone pedestal and marble statue. Small graveyard to north with Celtic cross grave markers. Walled garden to north-east with random coursed stone walls. Outbuildings to east with roughcast rendered and pitched tiled roofs.

Lehinch Monastery was founded by Brother Lewis Delahunty, who is buried in the stone graveyard to the north of the monastery. Jeremy Williams regards it as 'the most domestic religious institution in Ireland' and is a striking structure on the outskirts of the small town of Clara. The pleasing symmetry of the façade heightens the appeal of the monastery with its flanking projecting bays and its double-height Gothic style windows echoed in the central entrance with its Gothic styled fanlight. Along with its outbuildings, graveyard and walled garden, this monastery forms an important religious complex. The interior of the chapel is lit by beautiful stained glass windows with its delicately ribbed vaulted ceilings springing from masked corbels.