Visiting Moyne Friary , County Mayo

On a sunny day in August, we found ourselves driving along the Moy estuary in County Mayo.  Our plan was to visit the stunning Franciscan Friary of Moyne that is located not to far away from the small town of Killala and close by another magnificent Friary called Rosserk Friary (https://www.outdoorfitnesssligo.com/blog/rosserk-friary-county-mayo​ ).

When visiting the Friary, be mindful that it is located on private land. This means you have to cross some fields where cattle might graze, so it is important to close gates,....

The friary was founded by Mac William de Burgo in 1460 and, despite a turbulent history, it maintained its community of friars until the end of the 18th century. The enclosed cloister walkways — where the friars prayed, meditated, and carried out their daily monastic tasks — are considered among the finest in Ireland.

The church, with its elegant bell tower, rises on the south side of the cloister. Opposite it lie the kitchen and the refectory, the communal dining hall, which includes a pulpitum: a small recess where a friar would stand to read aloud to the community as they ate.
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On the east side of the cloister is the sacristy and the chapter house, the space where the friars gathered to discuss business and to hear the daily reading of the order’s rule. Above the chapter house is the dormitory, completing the traditional monastic layout.