Religious house - Augustinian canons

The National Monuments Service's description

The Urban Survey of Westmeath (Bradley et. al. 1985, 118) recorded that this Augustinian foundation ‘otherwise Known as Domus Dei [House of God], this priory was founded for Augustinian canons c.1227 by Ralph Petit, bishop of Meath (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 189). In 1306 the Ecclesiastical Taxation of Ireland valued the 'Temporalities of God's house of Mullingar' at £8 18s. 8d.' (Cal. doc. Ire., 259). In 1444 an indulgence was granted to aid the repair of the church (Cal. papal letters 1912, 483). At the Dissolution the extent noted that the church, belfry, house and other buildings were necessary for the entertainment of the Lord Deputy and for the defence of the neighbourhood but it specified that the stone cloister could be thrown down (White 1943, 286). The extent also mentions small castle near the site and a garden outside the east gate of the house, which implies that it stood with in its own precinct wall. The priory was then functioning as a parish church (WM019-089016-) (McNeill 1922, 20). In 1560 the site of the 'late monastery' of Mullingar was granted to Sir Richard Tuite (Morrin 1861, 439); 'a small castle' mentioned in this grant is presumably the one referred to in the extent, and identifies this as the Augustinian house. In 1667 the confirmation of a land grant to Sir Arthur Forbes under the Acts of Settlement and Explanation described the monument as 'The Abby & Precincts of ye Cannons Regular' (NLI p 1895).
In 1682 Sir Henry Piers recorded that ‘Here were anciently two monasteries, one whereof was a priory of Canons regular (WM019-089009-), founded by Ralph le Petit, Bishop of Meath, the other a convent of friars predicant (WM019-089004-); one of these stood in the east end of the town, the other on the west end of the town, the ruins of which are this day scarcely visible' (Vallancey 1786, 77). Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 189) state that the name 'Domus Dei' implies the existence of a hospital, and that a building named 'the spittle' is mentioned in an inquisition of 1571. No trace of the monastery survives and its site is difficult to determine precisely. It is marked by the O.S. (Westmeath XIX-10) on the site of All Saints church (WM019-089016-) but this cannot be correct because All Saints predates the priory. Piers (1981, 77-8) indicates that it stood at the east end the town and his account is to be preferred. In 1844-5 it was recorded that the ruins of the Augustinian Priory ‘though not extensive, were an interesting specimen of the early pointed style of architecture; but were removed, a number of years ago, to make room for extensions of the Roman Catholic chapel cathedral’ (Anon. 1846, 828). The present Austin Friars Street probably derives its name from the Augustinian friars who settled in Mullingar before 1643, possibly on the site of the old priory (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 304). The 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map marks the location of the abbey at the W end of Austin Friars St. [Bridge St.] where the map is annotated as 'Dispy. on site of Abbey'. The abbey may have been located at Cross keys junction which is the junction between Austin Friars Street and McCurtain Street, burials were found at this location in 1879 and 1900 (Andrews and Davies 1992, 9).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 03 June 2014

References

Cal. doc. Ire. - Calendar of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307, ed. H.S. Sweetman (5 vols., London, 1875-86).

Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N. 1970 (Reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses of Ireland. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.

Piers, H. 1981 A chorographical description of the county of Westmeath written AD 1682. Meath Archaeologial & Historical Society.

Morrin, J. (ed.) 1861 Calendar of the patent and close rolls of Chancery in Ireland, Henry VIII - Elizabeth. Dublin. HMSO.

NLI, p 1895 – National Library of Ireland, microfilm copy of the abstracts of grants under the acts of settlement and explanation, 1666-1684. Dublin. National Library of Ireland.

McNeill, C. 1922 Accounts of sums realised by sales of chattels of some suppressed Irish monasteries. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 52, 11-37.

Vallancey, C. (ed.) 1786 Collectanea de rebus hibernicis, Volume 1. Dublin. Luke White.

Cal. papal letters - Calendar of entries in the papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland: papal letters, 1198-1484 [etc.] (London, 1893-)

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H. 1985 Urban archaeological survey - county Westmeath. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

White, N.B. 1943 Extents of Irish monastic possessions, 1540-1541. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.