kilconnell franciscan friary

William O'Kelly, Lord of Hy Many, founded this new friary for the Franciscans in 1353 on the site of an older monastery founded by St. Conall in the sixth century. The buildings consist of a church with nave, choir, south transept and aisle, and some domestic buildings.

The nave is entered by a finely moulded west doorway with a 15th century date. The north wall of the church has two fine tomb niches. That near the west door has well carved figures of Saints Johanes (John), Lodovic (Louis), Maria, another John, Jacoib (James) and Dinois (Denis); the names Louis and Denis suggest French influence. It is not known to whom this tomb belonged, as the inscription has worn away.

The other fine tomb is that of the O'Dalys in the choir. Tradition says that the daughter of the founder built the tower and the main part of the church; certainly the tower was added later. The sacristy to the north of the choir was also added later. There are remains of a simple cloister with a wide variety of mason's marks, as well as conventual buildings, with the refectory in the north-west corner.

The friars adopted the Observantine rule of the order in 1460, and the friary was suppressed in 1541.