Portumna Friary

To the S of Portumna town, on or close to the site of the medieval borough (GA127-026----) and c. 200m to the SE of Portumna Castle (GA127-108----). This friary, now a National Monument, originated as a small 13th-century Cistercian chapel dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul (Harbison 1975, 98-9) and it was possibly the parish church of the borough (Bradley and Dunne 1992, 159, 161-3). Having apparently been abandoned, it was granted to the Dominicans by the O'Maddens sometime before 1414. Finally, it was converted for use as a Protestant church in the 18th century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 228). The church (34.75m E-W; 6.6m N-S) comprises a nave and chancel separated by a tower (now gone). The sacristy is off its NE corner. A transept (7.5m N-S; 6.5m E-W) extends off the S side of the nave and there may have been a corresponding N transept (7m N-S; 6.5m E-W) that was subsequently incorporated into the W range of the domestic buildings. The N range includes the refectory. The W and N sides of the cloister arcade have been reconstructed. The chancel appears to incorporate part of the original Cistercian church: the two opposing pointed arch, single-light windows in its side-walls are of 13th-century date (ibid.). These apart, the bulk of the fabric is of 15-century date, including the very fine traceried windows in the E gable of the chancel (four light) and the S wall of the transept (three light), the W doorway (originally with porch, now gone), and the piscina in the S wall of the chancel (Leask 1960, 128-9, 185). The sacristy has an unusual quatrefoil window and an inverted human head in relief at the base of its doorway. A number of medieval graveslabs (GA127-019001- to GA127-019010-) are visible in the chancel. (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 2, 70-71; CUCAP BDL 81)