Franciscans at 800

Follow us on Facebook

2010-05-17T17:11:00.003+01:00

If you are a Facebook user you can find us under "Ennis Franciscans". Follow the latest news from the Friary in Ennis!

Exhibition in Clare Museum

2009-10-09T18:41:00.002+01:00

“Franciscans Celebrating 800 years, 1209-2009”, an exhibition to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Franciscan Order, is on show in the Clare Museum, Ennis. The exhibition demonstrates the history of the Franciscan Order and its arrival to Ennis around 1250. Exhibits on show include the Moriartus O'Gripha Chalice from the Franciscan Friary, Ennis, 1671; Francis Molloy's Lucerna Fidelium, (Lochrann na gCreidmheach), (1672); and Francis Molloy's Grammatica Latino-Hibernica, (1677), a Latin Irish grammar printed in Rome and subsequently used by the friars in the Friary in Ennis. This was the first printed Irish grammar. O' Molloy studied for the priesthood at St. Isadore's in Rome in 1638. The grammar has the Ennis friary library stamp and manuscript notation, with shelf number and label. (From the Clare County Library Blog).

Celebrating 800 Years

2009-06-07T20:33:00.001+01:00

Ennis 800 Weekend

2009-05-14T21:05:00.000+01:00

Friday 15th May:

7pm Results of Children's Art Competition and Prize Giving in Áras an Chláir.

Saturday 16th May:

10.30am: Walking Tour of Historical Ennis by Sonia Schorman, with special emphasis on Franciscan sites. Gather at the Friary, Francis Street.

2pm - 4pm: Historical talks in St Anthony's Hall in partnership with the Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute of UCD. The History and Ethos of the Irish Franciscans: Dr Edel Bhreathnach, Rev Dr Joseph MacMahon, Dr John McCafferty, & Dr Malgorzata Krasnodebska D'Aughton.

8pm: Friars' Fleadh in the Friary Garden, Francis Street - A musical evening celebrating 800 years of tradition.

Sunday 17th May:

12pm Festive Eucharist in the Friary, Francis Street, with Franciscan Provincial Fr Caoimhín Ó Laoide, Friary Choir and Ennis Brass Band, followed by Garden Party.

Lecture Afternoon: Saturday 16th May, 2pm

2009-04-28T11:57:00.000+01:00

On Saturday 16th May in St Anthony's Hall at the Friary there will be an afternoon of short lectures. The programme is as follows:

Fr Joe MacMahon OFM, 'The Origins and Ethos of the Franciscan Order'
Dr John McCafferty, UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute, 'The Coming of the Franciscans to Ireland'
Brian Ó Dálaigh, Ennis, 'The Friars in Ennis'
Dr Malgorzata Krasnowdebska D'Aughton, UCC & Dr Edel Bhreathnach, UCD MOC, 'Images and Poetry in the Life of the Irish Franciscans'

Event Poster

2009-04-26T13:00:00.001+01:00

Click on the image to see a larger copy.

Friars' Fleadh

2009-04-09T16:46:00.001+01:00

The Friar's Fleadh is taking shape and we are delighted to announce our association with the Ennis Fleadh Nua Festival which takes place from 17th to 25th May. Participants already signed up include: Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach, the O'Brien-Vaughan School of Music from Newmarket-on-Fergus, the Burren Ceili Band directed by Gary Shannon and special guest legendary singer Jerry Lynch.

The entertainment kicks off at 7pm on Saturday the 16th May.

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Insitute - 2nd Annual Donatus Mooney Seminar

2009-04-03T12:09:00.000+01:00

24 APRIL 2009, UCD School of History & Archives, Room K114, 10.00.

Donatus Mooney OFM wrote a historical description of the Irish Franciscan Province De Provincia Hiberniae S. Francisci in 1617-18. He was the first guardian of St Anthony’s College Louvain and was appointed Minister Provincial of the Irish Province n 1615. His account is the most important source for the history of the Irish Franciscans in late medieval and early modern Ireland. This day-long seminar, dedicated to his memory, will deal with all aspects of the Franciscan world and, in particular, with research on the Franciscans in Ireland being undertaken under at the UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute and other institutions in Ireland.

10.00
Opening remarks by Dr Joseph MacMahon OFM, Provincial Secretary, Franciscan Province of Ireland

10.15 Dr Jens Roehrkasten, School of History & Cultures, University of Birmingham
Cohesion and diversity in the early Franciscan Order

11.00
Coffee

11.30 Yvonne McDermott, Department of Archaeology, NUI Galway
The Franciscan and Dominican friars in the Connacht Burke lordships: late medieval patronage and observance

12.00 Annejulie Lafaye, UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute and School of Archaeology
The mendicant orders in Munster: new approaches

12.30
A visit to UCD Archives to view a display of some of the key A manuscripts from the UCD-OFM collection
including the Annals of the Four Masters, the earliest surviving copy of Geoffrey Keating’s Foras feasa and
Tadhg Ó Cianáin’s diary of the Earls’ journey to Rome 1607-9.
(A sandwich lunch will be provided)

14.00 Mr Raghnall Ó Floinn, Head of Collections, National Museum of Ireland
Furnishings of pre-Reformation Irish Franciscan friary churches

14.45 Mr Keith Smith, UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute
Catholic altar plate c.1500-1829: patronage and possession

15.15
Coffee

15.45
Mr Michael Lynch, UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute
Catholic altar plate in the dioceses of counties Clare, Galway and Limerick

16.15
Summing up by Dr John McCafferty, Director, UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute

17.00: Reception in Common Room, Newman Building, UCD

For further details contact:
Dr John McCafferty, Director, UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute
john.mccafferty@ucd.ie; 01 7168285
or
Dr Edel Bhreathnach, Academic Project Manager, UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute
edel.bhreathnach@ucd.ie; 01 7164654

Message from our Minister Provincial

2009-04-02T15:07:00.000+01:00

In April 1209, Francesco Bernardone, a young man of 27 years, set out on the long journey to Rome. He was accompanied by a motley group of his townspeople. His purpose was to ask the greatest Pope of the age to approve a penitential way of life for them.

How extraordinary that, in that age of confusion with so many crazy and heretical religious movements, Pope Innocent III was able to recognise the work of the Holy Spirit in the men from Assisi who were the beginnings of the Franciscan Order.

This year, 2009, we give thanks to God for that graced moment of insight and openness to the Spirit eight hundred years ago.

For a number of years before taking this step, St Francis prayed for guidance in these words:

Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart.
Give me right faith,
certain hope and perfect charity.
Give me sense and knowledge
that I may carry out
your holy and true command.

May each one of us make that prayer in regard to our own way of life, especially those who are discerning their vocation. And may God's blessing be upon you every day of the year ahead.

Caoimhín Ó Laoide, OFM
Minister Provincial

Children's Art Competition

2009-03-31T10:08:00.000+01:00

We are delighted to confirm that the exhibition of artwork and prize giving will take place in the newly opened Áras Contae an Chláir. This beautiful building has won several architectural prizes and is a model of ecological awareness. The prize giving will take place on Friday 15th May at 7pm. (Note the earlier start).

Historical Photographs at the Clare Library

2009-03-26T17:14:00.000Z

The Clare Library have digitised many historical photographs from the Franciscan Friary in Ennis. Check out the exhibition here:

Outline of Events

2009-03-24T14:19:00.000Z

Friday 15th May:

7pm Results of Children's Art Competition and Prize Giving

Saturday 16th May:

Morning Walking Tour of Historical Ennis by Sonia Schorman, with special emphasis on Franciscan sites.

2pm - 4pm: Historical talks in St Anthony's Hall in partnership with the Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute of UCD. The History and Ethos of the Irish Franciscans: Dr Edel Bhreathnach, Rev Dr Joseph MacMahon, Dr John McCafferty, & Dr Malgorzata Krasnodebska D'Aughton.

Evening time: Friars' Fleadh in the Friary Garden, Francis Street - A musical evening celebrating 800 years of tradition.

Sunday 17th May:

12pm Festive Eucharist in the Friary, Francis Street, with Franciscan Provincial Fr Caoimhín Ó Laoide, Friary Choir and Ennis Brass Band.

The Clare Museum will host a special exhibition to commemorate 800 years of the Franciscan Order.

Children's Art Competition

2009-03-24T13:30:00.000Z

Click on picture for details.
For further information please contact friars.ennis@eircom.net

Welcome!

2009-03-24T13:24:00.000Z

The Franciscan Order is celebrating the 800th anniversary of its foundation in 1209. As part of the worldwide celebrations the Franciscans in Ireland are hosting a cultural and historical weekend in Ennis from 15th to 17th May 2009. We are delighted to acknowledge the support of the Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Insitute at UCD, OPW at Ennis Friary, Heritage Service, Monuments Service, Clare Museum and Clare Library, Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council. Further details will be added shortly.

Useful links: