The mendicant friaries in late medieval Mayo: perspectives on their history, archaeology and architecture, 1400-1540

Abstract

The religious houses founded by the Mendicant orders in Mayo between 1400 and 1540 are the concern of this study. The history, archaeology and architecture of five case study sites are discussed, namely the friaries of Burrishoole, Moyne, Murrisk, Rosserk and Strade. The literature relevant to this study was review ed and a number of key issues highlighted. These include the lack of scholarly attention devoted to medieval studies, attitudes to the medieval period in Ireland, and the debates concerning the Reformation in Ireland and the Dissolution of the monasteries. A number of methodologies were utilised in this study, including architectural surveys of the case study sites and comparative analysis. Primary source material was integrated into this study, although the dearth of documentary sources for the late medieval church in Ireland should be noted. The history of the friaries was examined and placed in the broader context of developments in late medieval Ireland, where they formed part of the revival of the Gaelic and Gaelicised communities in the fifteenth century. Architecturally, the friaries display the Late Irish Gothic style. Moyne and Rosserk are structurally well preserved with their domestic ranges intact, making them the most complete o f the case study sites. The architectural surveys found that the friaries contain varying amounts of ornamentation with fine exam plesat Strade and Rosserk. This study makes an important contribution to the growing field of medieval studies in Ireland by focusing on a group of friaries which have elements of Irish and even European importance.