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

Is Historic Importance OF old
THE OLD DOMINICAN ABBEY ANC
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 MOI
far from the waters of the Abbey
river, was built in 1927 by Donagl
Carbraigh O'Brien, king or prince o.
Thomond, and endowed by him fol
the Dominican Friars under the title
of "St. Saviour's." He is said to have
obtained from St. Dominic some o.
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 O'Brien in 1241. The
costly monument over his remains
represented him in a recumbent pos
ture, with cross in one hand and 9
scepter in the other. There Occur
in the margin of the calendar of the
monastery the following words: "Here
lies Donagh Carbraigh O'Brien, a val
liant leader in arms, Prince of Tho
mond, made knight by the King oil
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
Pater and Ave-" This is confirmed
by O'Heyne and De Burgo. The Alb
hey also contains the relics of the
following prelates:
125O-Most Rev. Hubert de Burgt
of Limerick.
1252-Bishop Donald OKennedy.
1281-Bishop Matthew O'Hogan.
1391-Bishop Matthew McGrath O.
Killaloe.
1254-Bishop Christian.
1303-Bishop Simon O'Curran.
1321-Bishop Maurice O'Brien o.
Kilfenora.
1345-Archbishop O'Grady of Cashe
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:
1340-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.
1503-Chieftain MacNamara, sur
named THE Warlike."
In confirmation of the fact as tt
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 theil
favour
l beg your friendly prayers to Chris
our Saviour;
Who, in their lifetime, for this house
did work,
The first of whom name was Huber
Burke,
Who graced the See of Limerick, ant
Mathew,
With Donald, Bishops both of Killaloe
Christian and Maurice l should name
before,
And Simon, Bishops late of Fenabor,
(Kilfenore).
Therefore, kind Father, let not an!
soul
OF these good men be lodged in thu
Black hole.
You, who read this, kneel down ii
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 thi,
stone,
Bethink yourself, and make the cas-
your own;
Then seriously reflect on what 70,
And think on what you are now ant
what you'll be;
Whether you're greater, equal, less
you must,
AS we'll as these, be crumbled int,
dust"
In 1904 this monastery, with other
in Ireland, was reformed by. Most Rev
Vincent Bandello, Master of the Or
der, and in 1914 was erected into ,
university by Pope Innocent x.
About 1541, at the suppression o
religious houses by Henry VIII, /
was taken from the Friars.