portumna dominican friary and castle

Friary:

For a long time the Cistercians of Dunbrody had a chapel here dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, but when it was abandoned by them O'Madden, the local chieftain, gave it to the Dominicans who, with the consent of the Cistercians, erected a friary and a church which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. Pope Martin V granted a Bull to confirm their possessions in 1426.

The remains consist of a church with nave, chancel and transepts, a cloister and domestic buildings. The two easternmost narrow and pointed windows in the north and south walls seem to be the oldest part of the building; they date to the thirteenth century and were presumably part of the original Cistercian church. The rest of the church was built by the Dominicans in the 15th century. The finest feature is the four-light east window, but the ornate window in the south transept is also of good quality.

In the sacristy to the north of the chancel is an unusual quatrefoil window; note also the head upside down at the bottom of the doorway.