The Priory of Our Lady of Graces, known locally as the North Abbey, was a 13th-century Irish Dominican monastery situated north of Youghal, County Cork.

North Abbey, Youghal
An Mainistir Thuaidh
Ruins
North Abbey, Youghal is located in Youghal
North Abbey, Youghal
Location within Youghal
North Abbey, Youghal is located in Ireland
North Abbey, Youghal
North Abbey, Youghal (Ireland)
Monastery information
Full namePriory of Our Lady of Graces, Youghal
Other namesHoly Cross Priory
OrderDominican Order
DenominationCatholic
Established1268
Disestablished1587
Dedicated toOur Lady of Graces
DioceseCloyne
People
Founder(s)Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Baron Desmond
Architecture
StatusRuined
Functional statusInactive, graveyard still in use
StyleLate Gothic
Site
LocationGreencloyne, Youghal, County Cork
CountryIreland
Coordinates51°57′27″N 7°51′16″W / 51.957497563050694°N 7.854369984499672°W / 51.957497563050694; -7.854369984499672
Visible remainssouthwest wall, pillar in the northeast
Public accessYes
Official nameNorth Abbey
Reference no.286[1]
North Abbey, Youghal is located in Youghal
North Abbey
North Abbey
Youghal Priory
Youghal Priory
Locations of monastic houses in Youghal

History

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The priory was founded in 1268 by Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald, the second baron of Desmond, whose maternal grandfather, Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly, had founded the Franciscan Friary of South Abbey, Youghal.

The Dominican priory was initially dedicated to the Holy Cross, but was changed to 'Our Lady of Graces' in the late 15th century following the re-discovery of a small, ivory statue of the Madonna and Child.

Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, written in 1837, said of it: "Thomas, whose son, in 1263 or 1271, founded a Dominican monastery, called the Priory of St. Mary of Graces."

This statue had made Youghal the centre of Marian devotion for several centuries, but ended after the priory was dissolved under King Henry VIII in the 16th century. The statue can now be found in St Mary's Dominican Priory in Cork City.[2]

Lewis goes on to say in his book that:

The western gable and some of the eastern portions of the Dominican friary, at the north end of the town, still remain

... Near the south end of the town is a chapel of ease, a neat plain building, erected in 1817 on the cemetery of the ancient Dominican friary, at an expense of £1200, of which £900 was a gift from the late Board of First Fruits and £300 was raised by subscription

Today

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Remains of the west gable
 
Remains of a decorated pillar

Some ruins of the priory can still be seen, and the area is also home to the main cemetery of Youghal.

Burials

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References

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  1. ^ "National Monuments of County Cork in State Care" (PDF). heritageireland.ie. National Monument Service. p. 6. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. ^ "The Medieval Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Graces". Pilgrimage in Medieval Ireland.

External sources

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  • Samuel Lewis, Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837.

See also

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