Kinalehin Friary (also Kinaleghin; Irish: Mainistir Chineál Fhéichín), originally a medieval charterhouse or Carthusian monastery and later a Franciscan friary, is a National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.
Cenél Féichín | |
 Side chapels | |
  Location within Ireland | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Domo dei; Kilnalahan; Kinaleghin; Kenaloyn; Cenel-Feichin; Cineoil-Feichin; Kilnalekin; Kinelfeichin |
| Order | Carthusian Order (c.1252–c.1341) Order of Friars Minor Conventual (c.1371–1540) Observant Franciscan Friars (1611–1700s) |
| Established | c.1252; refounded c.1371, 1611 |
| Disestablished | c.1341, 1540, 1700s |
| Mother house | Hinton Charterhouse (Carthusian era) |
| Diocese | Clonfert |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | John de Cogan |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Inactive |
| Style | Late Gothic, Romanesque |
| Site | |
| Location | Friary, Abbey, County Galway |
| Coordinates | 53°06′10″N 8°23′33″W / 53.102644°N 8.392537°W |
| Visible remains | abbey church, cloister |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | Kilnalekin Abbey |
| Reference no. | 554 |
Kinalehin Charterhouse was Ireland's only Carthusian monastery.[1]
Location
Kinalehin Friary is located 6.7 km (4.2 mi) west of Ballyshrule, northwest of Lough Derg and south of the Duniry River.[2]
History
Kinalehin was founded c. 1252 by John de Cogan for the Carthusians.[3] 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.[4]
In 1306 Kinalehin was sold to the Knights Hospitaller, but the sale appears never to have completed.[5] It was dissolved by the General Chapter (Grande Chartreuse) in 1321 and the diocese of Clonfert took possession in 1341.[citation needed]
Around 1371 Pope Gregory XI granted permission to the de Burgos to refound it, this time with the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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.[6]
The friars were expelled after the Cromwellian conquest but returned during the time of Charles II.[citation needed]
Buildings
The archaeological remains are mainly Franciscan, although some Carthusian elements remain as earthworks.[7][8]
The surviving remains consist of cloister, choir and three chapels.
nave arches
Cloister and arches
Cloister and remnants of tower, with fireplace visible
