August 23, 2012

Donegal Friary

"Rebirth"

Life from the ruins of Donegal Friary. Donegal, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Dún na nGall, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/5.6, 1/250 second, ISO 500.

Cloister Arcade

One side of the cloister arcade. Donegal Friary was founded for the Franciscan Friars in 1474 by the first Red Hugh O'Donnell and his wife Nuala O'Brien. It survived until it was plundered by the English in 1588. Four years later, they in turn were driven out by the second Red Hugh (who left Ireland shortly after the Battle of Kinsale in 1602), and the friars repaired the buildings. In 1601, during a siege of the friary by English forces, commanded by the renegade Niall Garbh O'Donnell, gunpowder stores exploded and wrecked the building. The friary was then granted to Sir Basil Brooke who used the church for Protestant worship. The friars wandered from place to place after Brooke took over, but remained active. Between 1632 and 1636 four scholars, led by Brother Michael O'Cleary, compiled what has become one of the most important sources for the history of Ireland: the Anals of the Four Masters. All the buildings were arranged around a central cloister or courtyard, but the remains are very fragmentary. Some of the cloister arcade survives, but very little of the church. Donegal, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Dún na nGall, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/7.1, 1/200 second, ISO 200.

Donegal Bay

Donegal Bay at low tide from the ruins of Donegal Friary. The River Eske flows alongside Donegal Castle, through town and into the bay just to the right in this photo. Donegal, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Dún na nGall, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Eire), August 23, 2012. f/9, 1/320 second, ISO 200.

Cloister Arcade

The other side of the cloister arcade. Donegal, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Dún na nGall, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200.