Moor Abbey facts for kids
| An Múr | |
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 Location in Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Galbally Friary |
| Order | Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) |
| Established | between 1210 and 1242 |
| Disestablished | 1748 |
| Diocese | Cashel and Emly |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Donnchadh Cairprech Ó Briain |
| Architecture | |
| Functional Status | Abandoned |
| Heritage designation | National Monument |
| Style | Irish Gothic |
| Site | |
| Location | Moorabbey, Galbally, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°24′09″N 8°16′41″W / 52.402374°N 8.278077°W |
| Public access | yes |
Moor Abbey is an old Franciscan friary (a type of monastery for friars) built a long time ago in the 1200s. It is located in County Tipperary, Ireland. Today, it is a special place called a National Monument, which means it's protected because of its history.
Where is Moor Abbey?
Moor Abbey is found on the north side of the River Aherlow. It is about 1.2 kilometers (or ¾ mile) east of a town called Galbally.
The History of Moor Abbey
Moor Abbey was started by Donnchadh Cairprech Ó Briain. He was the King of Thomond between the years 1210 and 1242. In 1471, a new church was built at the site. Sadly, it burned down just one year later in 1472. The parts of the buildings you can see today are from that time.
In 1541, the friary was closed down. This was part of a big event called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Later, the abbey became the property of John, who was the brother of James FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond.
In 1569, during a time of fighting called the Desmond Rebellions, the abbey was set on fire. Government soldiers led by Sir Humphrey Gilbert caused this damage. He was from Devon and was the half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh. The next year, a friar named Fr. Dermot O'Mulrooney and two other friars came back. But they were sadly killed by government forces.
The Franciscans returned again in 1645. However, they were soon forced to leave by Cromwellian forces. It wasn't until 1658 that they could live at the Abbey again. They finally left for good in 1748. This happened after a disagreement with Fr. James Butler. He was a church leader for the Cashel & Emly area. After this, the abbey slowly fell into ruin. The friars moved to Mitchelstown. The last friar from Moor Abbey passed away there in 1804. In 1921, the police tried to blow up the Abbey, but they did not succeed.
What the Building Looks Like Today
The church is now in ruins. It has a main area called a nave and a smaller area called a chancel. These two parts are separated by a tall bell-tower. Inside the chancel, there is a double piscina, which is a special basin. Next to a doorway on the north wall of the chancel, you can find a font. No other buildings from the friary remain standing today.
