Kilcrea Friary 3.38

Kilcrea Friary is located near Ovens in County Cork, Ireland. It is in the barony of Muskerry, a short distance west of Cork city, and is the burial site of Art Ó Laoghaire. To the west of the friary stand the ruins of Kilcrea Castle which was also built by the friary's founder.NameThe name Kilcrea means the Cell of Cere, Cera or Cyra. Saint Cyra, lived in the 6th century and is said to have founded a nunnery about a mile east of the friary in the parish of St Owen's, now called Ovens.HistoryFounded in 1465 for the Observant Franciscans by Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, Lord of Muskerry, Kilcrea Friary is located on the site on an earlier monastery, and named after Saint Cyra. He is interred in the centre of the choir. The Friary was officially suppressed in 1542 but continued in use under MacCarthy patronage. It was sacked by English troops in 1584. In 1597, it was granted to Cormac MacDermot MacCarthy who leased it to Richard Hardinge.In 1661, the friary was granted to the first lord of Clancarty. It was vested in the Commissioners of Public Works in 1892. However, as late as 1832, a small number of friars remained living on the site. A graveyard is situated within the ruins of the Abbey. This was the burials place of the MacCarthys of Muskerry from 1494 to 1616, commencing with Cormac MacCarthy. No trace of the MacCarthy tombs survive. The Friary has been used for general burial since the early 17th century. Art Ó Laoghaire is buried here.