The Franciscans in Athlone

The Franciscans in Athlone. . , BEGINNINGS , The Franciscans first came to Athlone c.1235 as the Normans gathered for the final onslaught on Connaught. The Burkes, O'Fallons and Dillons funded a church in honour of St. Mary's Assumption, consecrated by Archbishop Suerbeer of Armagh on 15 August 1241. By the river to the north of the bridge, it was the only church on the Leinster side for 200 years. Friars ministered far and wide. They cared for the sick at the sitell., PERSECUTION , The Friars probably had to leave the town in 1548. Ten years later their property was confiscated. They continued to minister in secret from hiding places in Clonekill, Kilmacuagh and Kilkenny West. Eventually they settled at Friars Island, Killinure, where the Four Masters first worked together in 1630. A path. "Slí an Aiprinn, connected the island and town. Here Brother John Claffey was martyred during the Cromwellian persecution., PENAL TIMES , Down the centuries the Friars laboured in the diocese of Clonmacnois. Thomas Quinn was elected Bishop in 1252. Eight other Franciscans held that office. The last, Anthony MacGeoghegan, ordained St. Oliver Plunkett. Friars also served as parish clergy, especially in penal times. The Poor Clares came to Lough Ree in 1630. Twelve years later, when their monastery, "Bethlehem," was sacked, the nuns fled. They re-settled at Galway., RE-BIRTH , The ruins of a 17th century Friary church can be seen at the Abbey graveyard. When Friar John Farrell became P.P. of St. Mary's in 1723, he used the old chapel in Irishtown. The Friars came to the present site about then. They opened a new church, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, in 1815. This was demolished in 1930 to make way for the present Church of St. Anthony. The oldest part of the present Friary dates from 1869.