Waterford

The original friary (one of the first in Ireland) was founded 1240. With the turmoil of the Reformation the church was turned into a hospital for the poor in 1541. A new house was built in 1612. The friars, of whom there were only two in 1766, lived mostly in Johnstown. The Franciscans came to the present site in 1830: the friary was built in 1833 and church completed in 1834. However the church was not opened for several years afterwards due to opposition on the part of the local bishop. The church was expanded in 1905-8 and again in 1931-3 and consecrated in 1944. The present friary was built in 1928.

In May 2019 the Franciscans Friars departed Waterford Friary. The friars in Clonmel travel daily to the Franciscan church in Lady Lane for Masses and Confessions.

The friary was given over by the Franciscans to a community of nuns – the Sisters of the Morning Star.

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The medieval site, known as ‘The French Church’ is about a quarter of a mile from the present friary (to-day the site of the Greyfriars Municipal Art Gallery).

Waterford m2Remains: the church, tower and parts of the transept chapel are complete; N.B. – the collection of medieval statues from the friary are kept in the Holy Ghost Hospital.

Waterford friary was one of the first in Ireland, being founded by Hugh Purcell about 1240. It was the scene of the surrender of four Irish chieftains (the O’Conor Don, de Burgo, O’Brien and O’Kennedy) to Richard II in 1395. The community did not adopt the Observant reform until 1521. The friary was suppressed on 2nd April 1540, but
the friars were able to remain in the city. Henry VIII granted a charter in 1544 to convert part of the building into a hospital-cum-alms-house, this being the original Holy Ghost Hospital. The church was used for burials, then (in 1693) by some French Huguenots, and later by the Methodists. These latter afterwards built a church on the site of the convent.

Waterford m3Following suppression, the friars moved into hiding in Johnstown, although some of them acted as chaplains to the Holy Ghost Hospital. An official residence was set up in 1612. The friars were forced out of the town in 1652, but returned to Johnstown in 1660. From then on the community numbered two or three. Not having a public church, the priests helped in the parish church. In addition, individual friars became parish clergy in other parts of the diocese. The residence was changed to the area of South Parade and Water Street about 1790. The friars moved to their present site in 1830 and opened a small chapel and residence in 1835. The church was expanded in 1905-8 and again in 1931-3 and consecrated in 1944. The present friary was built in 1928.