youghal churches

The chancel was heavily rebuilt around 1468 by Thomas Fitzgerald, 8th Earl of Desmond but was desecrated by Gerald, the 16th Earl, in 1579. its present ugly form is a result of 'rebuilding' by Drew in 1854, whereby some original features were plastered over. In the north walls the 15th century tomb of Thomas Fleming. An interesting feature in the walls of the chancel are the holes behind which are pottery vessels inserted for acoustic purposes. The south transept was bought by Sir Richard Boyle as a mortuary chapel, and he erected a fine tomb for himself and his wife there in 1619. The church contains a 14th century eight-sided Baptismal font, and a number of gravestones, one of which depicts Thomas Paris holding a falcon or dove in his hand. Near the north-west corner of the church is a square tower originally built in the early 13th century, but restrengthened later (15th century?). The Town Walls: L An area behind St. Mary's Church is bounded by the old town walls. These walls, dating probably to the 15th century but refortified in 1642, are possibly the best-preserved medieval town walls in Ireland. They include two semi-circular turrets at the highest point. The Clock Gate, on Main Street, built in 1777, stands on the site of one of the town gates In the same street are the 16th century Tynte's Castle (now a grain store), the deserted 16th century Almshouses and a 15th or 16th century doorway of a Benedictine Abbey, now disappeared. North Abbey: Founded in 1268 by Thomas Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald (known as 'The Ape'!) for the Dominicans, and dedicated to the Invocation of the Holy Cross, and later to St. Mary of Thanks. All that remains are portions of the west gable of the church with a three-light window, as well as a part of the centre aisle at the crossing, with architectural details similar to St. Mary's ; these date from shortly after the foundation. General Chapters of the Dominical Order were held here in 1289 and 1304. In 1586 it was granted to Sir Walter Raleigh, who pulled some of it down in 1587. In 1602, he sold it to Richard Boyle. A 15th century Italian 'Madonna and Child' owned by the monastery is now in the Dominican church at Pope's Quay in Cork.