Kinalehin Friary

Kinalehin Friary, originally a medieval charterhouse or Carthusian monastery and later a Franciscan friary, is a National Monument located in County Galway. Kinalehin was founded c. 1252 by John de Cogan for the Carthusians. The first monks came over from Hinton Charterhouse and/or Witham Friary, both located in Somerset. It was purportedly destroyed in 1279 and if so, rebuilt soon after.

Kinalehin was shut down in the Dissolution of the Monasteries of 1540. The monastic lands were purchased from Elizabeth I by Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde, who retained it for the friars. It was dissolved before 1609. It was again refounded in 1611 for the Observant Franciscan Friars. In 1629 An Leabhar Breac, a famous manuscript of the 15th century, was held at Kinalehin. The friars were expelled after the Cromwellian conquest but returned during the time of Charles II.

The archaeological remains are mainly Franciscan, although some Carthusian elements remain as earthworks. The surviving remains consist of cloister, choir and three chapels.

Address
Abbey Street, Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland

Established
c. 1252