Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeReligious house - Franciscan friars
- Date or period mentioned1700
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
Foundation date uncertain; Annals of Four Masters record foundation of 'monastery of St. Francis at Cork' by Diarmait MacCarthaig in 1229 (Bradley et al. 1985, 87).
Full archaeological record 124 words
Foundation date uncertain; Annals of Four Masters record foundation of 'monastery of St. Francis at Cork' by Diarmait MacCarthaig in 1229 (Bradley et al. 1985, 87). Extent of friary cleary outlined in confirmation grant by Philip Prendergast c. 1300 as land between burgesses of Shandon (possibly Shandon Street) and holy well (CO074-074---), and between rock cliff to N and River Lee to S. Hardiman map (c. 1601) and Philips' map (1685) show church located on N bank of river near bend in Lee where St. Vincent's Bridge (foot bridge) now stands. New church built in 1700, but not where former stood. Burials found during construction of houses on North Mall, in 1804; fragment of double ogee-headed window surround built into wall at Wise's Hill.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 14 January 2009 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
More abbeys & friaries nearby
Dominican Priory
Religious house - Dominican friars · Cork City · Cork · 0.7 km away

Gilabbey
Religious house - Augustinian canons · Cork City · Cork · 0.8 km away
Red Abbey
Religious house - Augustinian friars · Cork City · Cork · 1.0 km away
Kilcrea Friary
Religious house - Franciscan friars · Kilcrea · Cork · 16 km away
National MonumentMourne Abbey
Religious house - Knights Hospitallers · Mourneabbey · Cork · 22 km away
National MonumentCastlelyons Friary
Religious house - Carmelite friars · Mohera · Cork · 27 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- St Johns ChurchChurch · Cork City · 1.2 km · official record
Visitors' notes
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Around Franciscan Abbey
Other heritage nearby
- Saint Francis WellHoly well · 0.0 km
- Tiobra BhrianachHoly well · 0.1 km
- Skiddys CastleCastle · 0.2 km
- Old Market Place CastleCastle · 0.3 km
- St Peter's ChurchAncient church · 0.3 km
- Shandon CastleCastle · 0.5 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 32 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 18 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 13 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Ballybrack Woods TrailWalking Trail · 1.2 km · nearest point 4.3 km
- Ballincollig Gunpowder Trails - Military TrailWalking Trail · 6.5 km · nearest point 7.1 km
- Ballincollig Gunpowder Trails - Powdermills TrailWalking Trail · 4.4 km · nearest point 7.4 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- FountainstownBeaches · 18 km · Good Quality (2025)
- WhiteBay Beach Whitegate MidletonBeaches · 19 km
- CorkWalled towns · 0.5 km
Other attractions nearby
- Cork Butter MuseumHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.5 km
- Firkin Crane Dance CentreHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.5 km
- Walking Shandon Audio TourWalking · 0.5 km
- Pick Your Own Path Walking Tour by Hysterical HistoriesWalking · 0.5 km
What's on nearby
- Cork Zine Fest Residency/Festival/Workshops2026-11-05 · 0.6 km · free
- Disco Pigs by Enda Walsh2026-11-05 · 1.0 km
- Cork Zine Fest Residency/Festival/Workshops2026-11-06 · 0.6 km · free
Excavations nearby
- 02E0947 Ballinaspig More 4, County CorkRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 5.0 km
- 02E1033 Ballinaspig More 5, County CorkRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 5.1 km

