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Patronage and Observance: The Franciscan and Dominican Friaries in the Connacht Lordships of the Mac William Burkes, 1350-1550

Yvonne McDermott

Figure 1: Figurative carving at Rosserk Friary (photo: Y. McDermott)

A phase of expansion took place in the mendicant orders (Franciscan, Dominican, Augustinian and Carmelite) in late medieval Ireland, stimulated by the Observant reform of these orders and by the patronage of the Gaelic and Gaelicised communities.  This wave of activity was mainly concentrated in the north and west of the country.

The initial tenets upon which the Franciscan and Dominican orders were founded emphasised strict adherence to the apostolic life, including a commitment to poverty.   Over time, however, the mendicant orders began to stray away from their founding values.  The Observant reform of the mendicant orders took place in the fifteenth century and involved a return to the original principles on which the orders were founded.  Some friaries were founded specifically as reformed houses; others subsequently converted to the reform, while others, known as Conventual houses, did not adopt the reform.  This study will assess the extent to which Observance is reflected in the architecture of the religious houses which adopted the reform.

A secular geographical matrix has been chosen for this study, namely the Connacht lordships of the Mac William Burkes.  The beneficence of Gaelic and Gaelicised families such as the Burkes was crucial to the late medieval expansion of the mendicant orders in Ireland.  The manner in which lay piety manifested itself in the form of patronage of the Franciscans and Dominicans will be assessed as part of this research.  In addition, the role which the friaries played in their wider communities will be assessed in order to consider whether some friaries were fulfilling the role of the parish church. 

Patronage was engaged in at different levels in late medieval Ireland.  For those who could not afford to found a friary, there was the option of smaller scale patronage of such items as windows, chalices and chapels.  The types of patronage afforded to Observant houses will be addressed in the light of the renewed commitment to poverty of these orders. 

The founder of Burrishoole Dominican Friary, Richard Burke, resigned his lordship in 1469 and entered the friary he had founded where he remained a member until his death four years later.  This was not an uncommon occurrence and illustrates the connection between patrons and their foundations.  In addition to the popularity the mendicant orders enjoyed among patrons in the west of Ireland in the late medieval period, the orders were held in esteem by the lay populace in general.  Large preaching naves and the addition of transepts to churches provide evidence for the size of the congregation the friaries served.  The causes and manifestations of this popularity will be explored in this research in addition to the mendicant friars’ broader social role in the community. 

Recent Publications

• McDermott, Y. (2009). Strade Friary: Patronage and development at a medieval mendicant friary.  Cathair na Mart.  27, ( 92-108).
• McDermott, Y. (2009). The Priory of the Holy Cross, Cloonshanville: A fourteenth century Dominican foundation.  Co. Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society Journal.  10 (22-25).
• McDermott, Y. (2008). Murrisk Friary: A Late Medieval House of the Austin Friars.  Cathair na Mart.  26  (22-32).
• McDermott, Y. (2007). Returning to core principles.  History Ireland.  15,1 (12-17).
• McDermott, Y. (2006). History and architecture of the mendicant friars with reference to some Roscommon foundations.  Co. Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society Journal.  10 (9-12).

E-mail yvonnemcdhotmail.com

    

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