The story of the Ardfert Cathedral begins 1500 years ago when St Brendan the Navigator reputedly established a monastery here.
The site has three medieval church ruins, the main and earliest building being from the 12th century. Within the adjoining graveyard there are two other churches, Temple Na Hoe dating from the 12th century and Temple Na Griffin dating from the 15th century. Over 2,000 burials were found when the site was excavated[2] The main church has an ogham stone and a number of early Christian and medieval grave slabs. In the 15th century, a small transept was added and battlements were constructed. During the Reformation in Ireland, the established Church of Ireland became Protestant. The cathedral roof was destroyed during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, but the south transept was re-roofed and extended later in the 17th century. From 1663 the diocese was united with the Diocese of Limerick and the former cathedral became a parish church. In 1871, when a new Church of Ireland church was opened, the cathedral’s roof was again removed. After the 1871 disestablishment of the Church of Ireland, its disused historic sites, such as Ardfert Cathedral, were transferred to the Board of Public Works, now the Office of Public Works. Part of the transept has been restored, and houses the entrance and a gift shop.
On to the Franciscan Friary
Ardfert Franciscan friary dates to the late 13thcentury, early 14th An earlier monastery is thought to have burned in 1089, founded by Brendan the Navigator, prior to this Franciscan friary being built. The current friary was founded by Thomas Fitzmaurice, 1st Baron of Kerry, who died in 1280 and is buried on the north side of the friary’s altar. Indeed the Fitzmaurice family had several tombs in the friary, as did the Fitzmaurice lords of Kerry and Lixnaw.
The earliest known reference to the friary is in 1307 when a grain was stolen from a chest in the church. Three years later a more serious event occurs: the Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe, and the friars, were engaged in a legal case after the Bishop removed the body of Anglo-Norman noble John de Cantelupe from the friary and buried him elsewhere. This led to several of the friars being beaten. The outcome was the Bishop and his chaplains were arrested and their goods seized.
The friary was re-founded for the Observant Franciscan Friars in 1517, however, with the dissolution of the monasteries order, the friary was dissolved and the friars evicted. In 1584 it was turned into a barracks by its new owner, Col. John Zouche. In 1587 English planters, Walshingham and Denny, were granted the friary. In 1600 John Crosbie was appointed Bishop of Ardfert and settled at the friary, and it is possible he made alterations to the building during his tenure.
The friary remained in the possession of the Crosbie family, known as the Earls of Glandore, until the death of the last Earl of Glandore, John Crosbie, in 1815.
The friary consists of a 13th century church, with the cloister and a tower added during the 15th century to the west side.
The church has a long nave and chancel measuring 41m in length, consisting of a mix of limestone and sandstone, with the jambs and quoins of red and green sandstone.
The Chancel, an area around the altar, including the choir and sanctuary, is 10m in height and, following liturgical tradition, is found at the east end of the church. Light was provided by a 13thcentury window which was divided into five graded lancets (lancet windows are so called due to its resemblance to a lance) under a conjoined pointed hood moulding and with dressed chamfered jambs. Windows are also present in the north and south walls. The north wall shows signs of being rebuilt in the 19thcentury, with the construction of two round arched recesses thought to be imitations of the originals. The south wall is original to the 13th century, and includes 3m of parapet. The south wall has nine lancet windows with rounded rear arches, scontions (interior side of a window frame) having a trefoil-headed design. Underneath the lancet windows are five niches, two of which maybe a 16th century addition. The niches are round arched with chamfered limestone jambs, containing a 19th century memorial. The third niche, again round headed, has its original pilaster and nail head capital and hood moulding with pinnacles remaining on one side. The fourth niche is decorated with a trefoil headed arch sitting on 16th century demi-octagonal limestone pilasters. The fifth and final niche is round headed with ogee-headed hood moulding, and pinnacle is of 16th century time period.
A modern door leads off the chancel into the Sacristy, which originally had two floors. A small twin-light ogee-headed window with chamfered limestone jambs provided light into this space.
The nave shows substantial rebuilding over the course of time, but has some original features, such as two lines of dressed sandstone jambs belonging to the original 13th century west window. The south wall of the nave has four arches linking to the south aisle and transept of the church. The northern end of the nave also accesses the transept via a 16th century round headed doorway. To the right of this door are two corbels beneath which are plug holes, which it is suggested is the location of the rood screen.
The six floored tower is entered from a corner in the nave. The ground floor is lit by slit windows on the south and west walls. The first floor, is lit the same as the ground floor. The second floor, with its pointed vaulted ceiling is reached via an internal stairs. On the second floor there is a passage with an opening that looks into the nave. Light is provided by a splayed ogee-headed window with chamfered limestone jambs on the west wall. Two sets of stairs led to the upper floors featuring windows and garderobes.
The skies are a beautiful blue & we see sunshine…Banna Strand is calling
This beach was voted one of the top 25 Beaches in the world. It stretches as far as the eye can see or walk. It extends from the Smallrock (Roc Beag) and Blackrock in the North to Carrahane at its southern edge. It is around 12 kilometres (7 mi) north west of Tralee. It features shifting sand dunes along its entire length which rise up to 12 metres (40 ft). Carrahane lagoon on the south end, famous for migrating birds and the Roger Casement landing. The mountains of the Dingle Peninsulacan be seen on the south west horizon.
We’re too close to Tralee GC to not stop in & just maybe there’s a tee time open…
It’s “members day” so no golfing for the yanks. A toastie & chips sounds like a perfect lunch with this view.
Back to our home away from home
The Irish are very courteous drivers. Whomever has a bit of room they pull over ever so slightly to make room for a pass. Drivers always give a gratitude finger wave from the steering wheel and truckers give you a thank you flash of the lights. I’m going to take this home with me and try to be a more positive driver. Which means I’ll have to stay off the 10. It’ll be a good personal experiment.
We finally had our landlord fix our heat, actually get the radiators to radiate and we’ll have a toasty house tomorrow.
We snuggled in and watched on old movie (on Prime), a true story, The Scarlet and the Black. It’s set in Rome in WW2 during the Nazi invasion of Italy. It’s about an Irish priest who helped soldiers from the US, Canada, Australia & England hide from the Germany army. Really enjoyed it and watch for the surprise story line at the end of the story.
Tomorrow golfing at Newcastle West…life is way better than good 😊
