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Order: Dominican (OP/ Order of Preachers/ Ordo Fratrum Praedicatorum/ ‘Black Friars’)
Founded in 1253
Founded by Felim O’Conor (d.1265), king of Connacht
Also known as: St Mary’s Priory

The Place

St. Mary’s Dominican Priory is located on the outskirts of the historical medieval town of Roscommon, which at its core includes the Anglo-Norman castle and house of Augustinian canons located on the site of the earlier monastery of St Commán. Roscommon priory was one of a number of Dominican foundations established in the west of Ireland in the mid-thirteenth century, the other foundations being Athenry, Sligo, Strade. It was founded in 1253 by Felim O’Conor (d.1265), king of Connacht and consecrated in 1257 by the Bishop of Elphin, Thomas O’Conor (d.1279). That the construction was completed in four short years suggests that it enjoyed patronage on a royal scale. He was buried in Roscommon priory in an impressively decorated stone tomb. Recent analysis of the buildings has shown that the priory was renovated in the fifteenth century when the tower was added and new windows inserted.

The People

 

Felim O’Conor (d.1265), king of Connacht was the son of Cathal Croibhdhearg (d. 1224), also the king of Connacht and the principal patron of the Cistercian house at Abbeyknockmoy. Felim did not obtain the kingship of Connacht after his father’s death, with his brother Áed succeeding in 1224 before his untimely death in 1228. Once he secured his kingship, Felim faced much unrest in Connacht and frequent threats from both the Anglo-Normans, local Irish and factions of his own family. Having already declared his loyalty to Henry III, Felim travelled to England to meet the king in 1240 and took part in his campaigns in Scotland and Wales.

 

Due to financial distress in the mid-thirteenth century, Henry III began to grant lands in Ireland to supporters, including large parts of Connacht. The heartlands of Felim’s kingdom, known as the Five Cantreds, were under threat as a result of the king’s policy and it was at this time that he founded the Dominican house in Roscommon, probably to secure his position in response to the king’s actions. Felim had already sponsored the construction of the refectory of a Dominican foundation in the 1240s in Athenry, Co. Galway whose main patron was the Anglo-Norman lord, Miler de Bermingham (d.1322). Felim died in 1265 and was buried in Roscommon. Other members of the O’Conor dynasty and local nobles are likely to have been buried in the priory, many in the nave’s tomb niches.

 

 

(Video from The Discovery Programme (c.2010) showing the evolution of a reconstruction of Roscommon Priory using the integration of laser scan, geophysics and topographic survey data)

 

Why visit?

 

Roscommon was an important medieval settlement and the priory lay on the outer perimeter of the town. The only standing remains of the priory today are the ruins of its church, but it was a far more extensive monastic complex. On the south side of the church stood the claustral buildings, which would have included a chapter house, a dormitory above it, a refectory and a kitchen. There are two visible phases in the building of the church as it was renovated in the fifteenth century. The highlight of the priory is the tomb of its founder, Felim O’Conor, which is located in a niche on the north wall of the choir at the church’s eastern end. On the top of it, lies the thirteenth-century effigy of Felim, and its fifteenth-century frontal is carved with armed men. The armed men were Gallowglasses, professional soldiers employed throughout the north and west. They wear helmets, chainmail and hold swords or axes. This panel was added during the fifteenth-century renovations to celebrate and venerate the O’Conor connection with Roscommon at a time when they had regained control of the region.

 

What happened?

 

1253: Felim O’Connor (d.1265), king of Connacht founded St. Mary’s Priory for the Dominican Order

 

1257: The priory was completed and consecrated by Thomas O’Conor, bishop of Elphin

 

1270: The priory and town were burned due to a conflict between Áed O’Conor (d.1275), son of Felim and successor king of Connacht, and James Audley, Justiciar of Ireland (d.1272)

 

1270-2: James Audley seized provisions and large sums of money donated by the poor to the Dominican church in Roscommon to feed the royal army engaged in the fighting of the Áed O’Conor

 

1274: Eoghan son of Ruaidhrí O’Conor (d.1316) was murdered in the priory by his own kinsmen

 

1275: Edward I ordered the treasurer in Ireland to recompense the Roscommon Dominicans for the food and money seized by James Audley

 

1308: The priory was damaged by lightning

 

1445: The effects of war left the priory buildings in very poor repair. A papal indulgence was granted to assist the re-building of Roscommon priory

 

1464: Tadhg O’Conor (d.1464), king of Connacht, was probably buried in the priory

 

1494: John Lynch, a merchant of Galway, left the Dominicans of Roscommon money and goods in his will

 

1570: The priory and its possessions were confiscated by the Crown

 

1573: The priory was leased to Sir Thomas le Strange, constable of Roscommon Castle

 

1578: The priory and its properties were granted to Sir Nicholas Malby, President of Connacht (d.1584), in addition to Roscommon Castle and the Augustinian priory which he had already received

 

1615: Roscommon priory was granted to Francis Annesley, 1^st Viscount Valentia (d.1660). The friars continued living in the district at various places away from the town, including on the slopes of Mary Hill

 

1636: A chalice bearing this date was presented to the friars of Roscommon by Connal Farraile and Rosa Garmley

 

1662: John Baptist O’Beirne was the prior of Roscommon when he signed the Dominican remonstrance against Peter Walsh

 

1829: Bartholomew Hyacinth Keher (c.1800-1872) was the prior of Roscommon but after the death of his uncle, Bartholomew Keelty in 1830, he was alone there until the convent was closed in 1844