Grangefertagh


Grangefertagh is a former abbey located in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is today a National Monument.

Location

Grangefertagh is located about north of Johnstown, County Kilkenny, near a crossing-point on the River Goul.

History

Grangefertagh was founded in the sixth century AD by Saint Ciarán of Saigir, and known as Fearta-Cáerach. In 861 Cerball mac Dúnlainge killed a host of Vikings at Fertagh, taking forty heads. A round tower was later built. In 1156 the high king Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn burned the tower with the lector inside.
The monastery was reopened by the de Blancheville family for the Canons Regular of St Augustine in the early 13th century. It was destroyed and ruinous 1421 and rebuilt 1455 by Thady Megirid/Magriyd, a canon of Inchmacnerin. The monastery was dissolved in 1540 but the church of was in use until 1780 and now forms part of a Gaelic handball alley.

Buildings

Round tower

The tower is tall. It has nine windows: six angle-headed and three lintelled. Four of the angle-headed windows are on the top storey facing the four cardinal directions. The tower is complete to the cornice but only part of the cap remains.
The doorway faces northeast and is above the ground.

Church

There is an Augustinian monastery church west of the tower. A side chapel contains the Late Gothic tomb of Seaghan mac Finghin Mac Gilla Patráic, King of Osraige, who died in 1468. The tomb has effigies of Seaghan in armour and his wife Nóirín Ní Mórdha. Other members of the Mac Giolla Phádraig dynasty also rest there. The chest is decorated with tracery and lierne vaulting in relief.