Lisgoole Abbey
Encyclopedia
Lisgoole Abbey or the Abbey Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Mary, was formerly located on the southern banks of upper Lough Erne
, County Fermanagh
.
The site was occupied by the old Irish monastery of St Aid but was taken over by the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in 1145. The abbey was destroyed by fire in 1360 but was rebuilt. Escaping the worst excesses of religious persecution, the abbey remained in use until its community eventually dwindled, so much so that an agreement was drawn up by the then abbot Cahill McBrien McCuchonnaght Maguire in 1583, to hand over the abbey to the Franciscan
order. However, even though reconstruction of a new abbey was taking place the monks were forced to leave in 1598.
At the time of the King James inquisition into the designation of the lands of Fermanagh (September 1609), it was recorded that the lands of Lisgoole Abbey were given to Sir Henry Brunckar on 12 November 1606. The allocation covered the abbey and the area of the late Abbey of Cannons in Lisgoole, which in turn included the old church and church yard. The specific area was designated as 6 "quarters" of land containing 24 parcels known as tithe
s, each tate
estimated to contain 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) in "country measure". Associated with these lands were other traditional payments given to Ballinsaggart and other associated islands, together with the ownership of the late Abbey of St Francis Srancis, which is situated near Lisgoole Abbey.
It was at this time that Lisgoole was recommended as the site of a new colonial/plantation settlement by the Lord Deputy, Chichester. Originally there were two areas which were under consideration for the proposed settlement town, the first being Ballyshanon (now Ballyshannon
) and the other at "Lysgoule which lies about the midst of the county". Chichester stated that he wanted to construct the "beginning of a town where he would build both sides of the river, whereby the bridge could be defended and the passage secured". In fact Chichester was so enamoured by the location of Lisgoole that he immediately ordered houses to be constructed to billet soldiers, who at that time were stationed at Devenish, together with a gaol and house of sessions, and proclaimed a weekly market.
The owners of Lisgoole ignored this offer from the Lord Deputy. The location eventually chosen by the commissioners for a town was Enniskillen
. In 1608 Chichester recommended this position in his notes of remembrances and seems to have forgotten Lisgoole, saying "Inishkellin is the fittest place for a shire town and shall be made a corporation". The free school originally intended to be built at Lisgoole was eventually built at Portora
.
Eventually, the monks returned in 1616. It is stated that there was a friar who was guardian of the suppressed friary of Lisgoole called Paul O Feararan around 1671 who met Blessed Oliver Plunkett at the abbey. In his report on sept 25th 1671, the Primate states that at this time there were 5 friars at Lisgoole, two of which were good preachers, Frs Feararan and Mcmulkin.
The monks continued worshipping until well into the 18th century, but their work in the local parishes was eventually responsible for their depletion. The last recorded friar from the area was Fr. Stephen Keenan, who died in Enniskillen in 1811.
Later on during the second world war, American army divisions used this area as a base. These units included the 109th Medical Battalion (34th Infantry Division) in 1942 and the 8th Medical Battalion (minus Companies A and B) (8th Infantry Division) from 16 December 1943–1944.
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
, County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
.
The site was occupied by the old Irish monastery of St Aid but was taken over by the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in 1145. The abbey was destroyed by fire in 1360 but was rebuilt. Escaping the worst excesses of religious persecution, the abbey remained in use until its community eventually dwindled, so much so that an agreement was drawn up by the then abbot Cahill McBrien McCuchonnaght Maguire in 1583, to hand over the abbey to the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
order. However, even though reconstruction of a new abbey was taking place the monks were forced to leave in 1598.
At the time of the King James inquisition into the designation of the lands of Fermanagh (September 1609), it was recorded that the lands of Lisgoole Abbey were given to Sir Henry Brunckar on 12 November 1606. The allocation covered the abbey and the area of the late Abbey of Cannons in Lisgoole, which in turn included the old church and church yard. The specific area was designated as 6 "quarters" of land containing 24 parcels known as tithe
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
s, each tate
Tate
-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
estimated to contain 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) in "country measure". Associated with these lands were other traditional payments given to Ballinsaggart and other associated islands, together with the ownership of the late Abbey of St Francis Srancis, which is situated near Lisgoole Abbey.
It was at this time that Lisgoole was recommended as the site of a new colonial/plantation settlement by the Lord Deputy, Chichester. Originally there were two areas which were under consideration for the proposed settlement town, the first being Ballyshanon (now Ballyshannon
Ballyshannon
Ballyshannon is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located where the N3 and N15 cross the River Erne, and claims to be the oldest town in Ireland.-Location:...
) and the other at "Lysgoule which lies about the midst of the county". Chichester stated that he wanted to construct the "beginning of a town where he would build both sides of the river, whereby the bridge could be defended and the passage secured". In fact Chichester was so enamoured by the location of Lisgoole that he immediately ordered houses to be constructed to billet soldiers, who at that time were stationed at Devenish, together with a gaol and house of sessions, and proclaimed a weekly market.
The owners of Lisgoole ignored this offer from the Lord Deputy. The location eventually chosen by the commissioners for a town was Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. In 1608 Chichester recommended this position in his notes of remembrances and seems to have forgotten Lisgoole, saying "Inishkellin is the fittest place for a shire town and shall be made a corporation". The free school originally intended to be built at Lisgoole was eventually built at Portora
Portora Royal School
Portora Royal School for boys, and some 6th form girls, located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, is one of a number of 'free schools' founded by Royal Charter in 1608, by James I...
.
Eventually, the monks returned in 1616. It is stated that there was a friar who was guardian of the suppressed friary of Lisgoole called Paul O Feararan around 1671 who met Blessed Oliver Plunkett at the abbey. In his report on sept 25th 1671, the Primate states that at this time there were 5 friars at Lisgoole, two of which were good preachers, Frs Feararan and Mcmulkin.
The monks continued worshipping until well into the 18th century, but their work in the local parishes was eventually responsible for their depletion. The last recorded friar from the area was Fr. Stephen Keenan, who died in Enniskillen in 1811.
Later on during the second world war, American army divisions used this area as a base. These units included the 109th Medical Battalion (34th Infantry Division) in 1942 and the 8th Medical Battalion (minus Companies A and B) (8th Infantry Division) from 16 December 1943–1944.