The Irish standard., 1914-11-28
Diamond Jubilee of Convent of Mercy
Historic Importance Dominican Abbey Of Limerick
Historic Importance of old

IS Historic Importance OF old [
THE OLD DOMINICAN ABBEY AND
CONVENT OF MERCY,
LIMERICK.
The old monastery, which was sit
uated within and close by the walls
of Limerick, on the northeast of the
city, in delightful situation, and not
far from the waters of the Abbey
river, was built in 1927 by Donagh
Carbraigh O'Brien, king or prince of
Thomond, and endowed by him for
the Dominican Friars under the title
of st. Saviour's." He is said to have
obtained from st. Dominic some of
his religious to preach amongst the
Irish. 1t is asserted by certain of
the Dominican writer's that st. Dom
inic himself visited Ireland.
The church attached to the mon
astery became the burial place of Don
agh Carbraigh OBrien in 1241. The
costly monument over his remains
represented him in recumbent pos
ture, with cross in one hand and
scepter in the other. There occur
in the margin of the calendar of the
monastery the following words: Here
lies Donagh Carbraigh O'Brien, val
liant leader in arms, Prince of Tho
mond, made Knight by the King of
England, who caused to be built the
Church of the Friars Preachers, who
died on the 9Th day of March, 1241.
On whose soul may the Lord have
mercy. Amen, Let each devoutly say
a Pater and Ave-" This is confirmed
by O'Heyne and De Burgo. The Alb
hey also contains the relics of the
following prelates:
1250-Most Rev. Hubert de Burgo
of Limerick
1252-Bishop Donald O'Kennedy.
12S1-Bishop Matthew O'Hogan.
1391-Bishop Matthew McGrath of
Killaloe.
l254-BishOp Christian.
1303-Bishop Simon O'Curran.
1321-Bishop Maurice O'Brien of
Kilfenora.
1345-Archbishop O'Grady of Cashel
and Emily.
1651-Terence Albert O'Brien, mar.
tyr, Bishop Of Emily.
1651-Father James Wolfe, o. P,
martyr.
Several illustrious Irishmen were
also inferred in the Abbey, viz:
134O-Gerald Rochfort, head of his
Sept. Many of the Geraldines were
buried there, and their anniversaries
were commemorated with due solem-
nifty. Thaddeus FitzDermott Organ,
surnamed THE Gentle,' head of his
clan.
1349-Gerald de Rupe Forti, head of
Clan Roche.
1462-James FitzJohn, Earl of Des-
mond, called second founder of the
Abbey.
15O3-Chieftain MacNamara, sur.
named 1.-The Warlike."
In confirmation of the fact as to
the interment of the six bishops, we
have it on the authority Of an ancient
sepulchral inscription which existed
formerly in the archives of the mon
astery, the translation of which is
thus given in Wares Bishops:
six Prefates here do lie, and in their
favour
l beg your friendly prayers to Christ
our Saviour;
Who, in their lifetime, for this house
did work,
The first of whom name was Hubert
Burke,
Who graced the See of Limerick, and
Mathew,
With Donald, Bishops both of Killaloe;
Christian and Maurice should name
before,
And Simon, Bishops late of Fenabore
(Kilfenore).
Therefore, kind Father, let not any
soul
OF these good men be lodged in the
Black hole.
You, who read this, kneel down in
humble posture,
Below, three AYES say, one Pater Nos
ter.
Whoever for the soul sincerely prays,
Merits indulgence for hundred days;
And you, who read the verses on this
stone,
Bethink yourself, and make the case
your own;
Then seriously reflect on what you
see,
And think on what you are now and
what you'll be;
Whether you're greater, equal, less,
you must,
AS we'll as these, be crumbled into
dust"
In 1904 this monastery, with others
in Ireland, was reformed by. Most Rev.
Vincent Bandello, Master of the Or
der, and in 1914 was erected into a
university by Pope Innocent x.
About 1541, at the suppression Of
religious houses by Henry VIII, it
was taken from the Friars.