Ardfert Abbey facts for kids
| Mainistir Ard Fhearta | |
Ruins of the abbey church
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 Location in Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ard-ferta-brenainn; Hertfert; Hyferte; Ifert |
| Order | Order of Friars Minor Conventual |
| Established | c. 1253 |
| Disestablished | 1580 |
| Diocese | Ardfert and Aghadoe |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Thomas Fitzmaurice, 1st Baron Kerry |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Inactive |
| Style | Late Gothic |
| Site | |
| Location | Ardfert, County Kerry |
| Coordinates | 52°19′49″N 9°46′26″W / 52.330162°N 9.773831°W |
| Visible remains | choir, nave, cloister, dormitory |
| Public access | yes |
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National Monument of Ireland
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| Official name | Ardfert Abbey |
| Reference no. | 358 |
Ardfert Abbey is a medieval Franciscan friary and National Monument located in County Kerry, Ireland.
Location
Ardfert Abbey is located in the east part of Ardfert village.
History
It is thought that Ardfert was the original site of the monastery founded by Saint Brendan, which burned down c. 1089.
Ardfert Friary was founded for the Order of Friars Minor Conventual c. 1253 by Thomas Fitzmaurice, 1st Baron Kerry; he was purportedly buried here c. 1280–1.
In 1310 a disagreement with the Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe Nicol Ó Samradáin led to some friars suffering violent beatings.
A residential tower was added to the west end of the church in the 15th century.
It was refounded in 1517 for the Observant Franciscan Friars and finally dissolved in 1584; Col. John Zouche turned it into a barracks. Some friars remained in the area. In 1590 it belonged to James FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond.
In 1636 the friary was absorbed into the estate of the Earls of Glandore (Crosbie family).
In 1670 the 15th-century window of the church was moved to Ardfert Cathedral; it was returned to the friary in 1815.
Buildings
The layout of the building follows the standard layout of most Franciscan friaries: a large church, cloister and residential offices.
The church is a long nave and chancel. A residential tower was added to the west end in the 15th century. It contains five floors, some with window seats and garderobes.
There is a thirteenth-century window divided into five lights at the east gable which would have lit up the choir. There are also nine lancet windows in the south wall; the design appears to be copied from Ardfert Cathedral.
Below the nine south windows there are 5 niche tombs added in the later centuries.
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Nave and choir
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Cloister walk
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Cloister arcades
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South window
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Cloister and dormitory
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Arms of Susan Ann Crosbie
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Tomb niches
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Tomb niches
