Catholic Social Teaching

The Franciscans have been in Ireland over 700 years, living out a Christian presence and action among a broken people.

In 1226, as St Francis lay dying, a small group of his followers were already on their way to Ireland. They landed at Youghal, Co Cork, and from there made progress through the country. Theirs was a simple way of life dedicated to God and to the service of the Lord in people. So great was the impression they made that within a decade or so they were being invited into the territories of local rulers and being aided financially to found friaries.