Ireland: Dominican Black Abbey, Kilkenny
Jan 8, 2021 16:03:43 #
The Black Abbey of Kilkenny, Ireland, is a Catholic priory of the Dominican Order, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Black Abbey was established in 1225 as one of the first houses of the Dominican Order in Ireland.
The history of the Black Abbey is marked by several reversals of fortune under different governments. The name Black Abbey derives from the use of the term "Black Friars" to describe members of the Dominican Order. This in turn derives from the black cappa or cloak which Dominicans wear over their white habits. When the priory was founded the 13th century, the town of Kilkenny was divided in two parts by the Bregach River. One part was occupied mainly by indigenous Irish (Irishtown) and the other by English (Norman) settlers. The Dominicans established the priory between those two towns and outside the city walls, because they wished to show their independence from either side. In practical terms, the site chosen for the priory presented challenges, because ever since the priory was established, right up to the present time, the buildings are subject to annual flooding from the river.
The priory was founded in 1225 by William Marshal the younger, Earl of Pembroke, who died in 1231. In 1349, the community within the priory was affected by the outbreak of bubonic plague - known as the Black Death. Eight members of the community died in three months during this pandemic. After the plague years, very few structural changes were carried out at the priory up until the end of 15th century. In 1558, Ireland was under the rule of Elizabeth I of England, a Protestant queen, and the property of the priory was confiscated by the crown. Elizabeth died in 1603, but the policies of the new Protestant King, James I, did not change: the priory became a courthouse, and the Dominicans were forced to leave and find places to stay in other houses.
From 1642 to 1649, Black Abbey played a major part in attempting to save both the Irish Catholic religion and the king, Charles I of England and of Ireland; the abbey hosted the government known as the Irish Catholic Confederation. This effort did not last long however. In March 1650, the English army under the command of Oliver Cromwell surrounded Kilkenny in a siege. Many people died from epidemic and hunger, many more fled before the city finally surrendered.
From 1685 to 1689 under the rule of the Catholic king James II of England, the abbey flourished, but in 1690, under the rule of the Protestant king William III of England, both Kilkenny and the abbey were once again occupied by the English.
By 1776, the community of the Black Abbey was close to zero, but starting in that year, the Dominicans retook possession of the abbey, first by renting it. In 1816, Black Abbey was restored as a Dominican priory, and the first public mass was held on 25 September 1816.
On Trinity Sunday, 22 May 1864, Black Abbey was reconsecrated by the bishop, and was finally opened again as a house of prayer.
The original choir fell into ruin, and at the end of the 18th century the stones were used to construct two storey living quarters for the Dominican friars. This structure was used for 120 years. It was demolished to enable the reconstruction of the nave, which made possible the reconsecration of the abbey in 1864. (The south transept was restored first, and before the reconsecration, masses were held there.)
The nave leads to the altar below the tower. Immediately behind the altar is the large stained glass window known as the "Rosary Window", which is composed of five "lights" or great vertical panels, and is the largest stained glass window in Ireland. This window was created in 1892 by Mayers of Munich, and depicts the Mysteries of the Rosary. Franz Mayer & Co. (Mayer & Co. of Munich) is a German stained glass design and manufacturing company, based in Munich, Germany, that has been active throughout most of the world for over 160 years. The firm was very popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and was the principal provider of stained glass to the large Roman Catholic churches that were constructed throughout the world during that period. Franz Mayer and Co. were stained glass artists to the Holy See and consequently were popular with Roman Catholic clients.
I hope you enjoy these images from The Black Abbey - especially the staind glass.
Mark
The history of the Black Abbey is marked by several reversals of fortune under different governments. The name Black Abbey derives from the use of the term "Black Friars" to describe members of the Dominican Order. This in turn derives from the black cappa or cloak which Dominicans wear over their white habits. When the priory was founded the 13th century, the town of Kilkenny was divided in two parts by the Bregach River. One part was occupied mainly by indigenous Irish (Irishtown) and the other by English (Norman) settlers. The Dominicans established the priory between those two towns and outside the city walls, because they wished to show their independence from either side. In practical terms, the site chosen for the priory presented challenges, because ever since the priory was established, right up to the present time, the buildings are subject to annual flooding from the river.
The priory was founded in 1225 by William Marshal the younger, Earl of Pembroke, who died in 1231. In 1349, the community within the priory was affected by the outbreak of bubonic plague - known as the Black Death. Eight members of the community died in three months during this pandemic. After the plague years, very few structural changes were carried out at the priory up until the end of 15th century. In 1558, Ireland was under the rule of Elizabeth I of England, a Protestant queen, and the property of the priory was confiscated by the crown. Elizabeth died in 1603, but the policies of the new Protestant King, James I, did not change: the priory became a courthouse, and the Dominicans were forced to leave and find places to stay in other houses.
From 1642 to 1649, Black Abbey played a major part in attempting to save both the Irish Catholic religion and the king, Charles I of England and of Ireland; the abbey hosted the government known as the Irish Catholic Confederation. This effort did not last long however. In March 1650, the English army under the command of Oliver Cromwell surrounded Kilkenny in a siege. Many people died from epidemic and hunger, many more fled before the city finally surrendered.
From 1685 to 1689 under the rule of the Catholic king James II of England, the abbey flourished, but in 1690, under the rule of the Protestant king William III of England, both Kilkenny and the abbey were once again occupied by the English.
By 1776, the community of the Black Abbey was close to zero, but starting in that year, the Dominicans retook possession of the abbey, first by renting it. In 1816, Black Abbey was restored as a Dominican priory, and the first public mass was held on 25 September 1816.
On Trinity Sunday, 22 May 1864, Black Abbey was reconsecrated by the bishop, and was finally opened again as a house of prayer.
The original choir fell into ruin, and at the end of the 18th century the stones were used to construct two storey living quarters for the Dominican friars. This structure was used for 120 years. It was demolished to enable the reconstruction of the nave, which made possible the reconsecration of the abbey in 1864. (The south transept was restored first, and before the reconsecration, masses were held there.)
The nave leads to the altar below the tower. Immediately behind the altar is the large stained glass window known as the "Rosary Window", which is composed of five "lights" or great vertical panels, and is the largest stained glass window in Ireland. This window was created in 1892 by Mayers of Munich, and depicts the Mysteries of the Rosary. Franz Mayer & Co. (Mayer & Co. of Munich) is a German stained glass design and manufacturing company, based in Munich, Germany, that has been active throughout most of the world for over 160 years. The firm was very popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and was the principal provider of stained glass to the large Roman Catholic churches that were constructed throughout the world during that period. Franz Mayer and Co. were stained glass artists to the Holy See and consequently were popular with Roman Catholic clients.
I hope you enjoy these images from The Black Abbey - especially the staind glass.
Mark
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Jan 8, 2021 16:05:49 #
ejpeters
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Beautiful and great information! My family comes from County Kilkenny.
Jan 8, 2021 16:11:37 #
Beautiful story and Abbey.
Went to a Dominican high school in Illinois.
Go Friars!
Thanks for sharing
Went to a Dominican high school in Illinois.
Go Friars!
Thanks for sharing
Jan 8, 2021 16:25:32 #
Jan 8, 2021 16:55:20 #
Nice set. All of that lush green featured in your many Ireland posts just screams for Fujichrome.
I read an article many years ago in which the author posited that you could tell the colors film would best portray by the color of the film box itself.
Kodak would be yellow and red, Fuji would be green and blue. I found Agfachrome with a silver and tan box would render nice pastels.
I read an article many years ago in which the author posited that you could tell the colors film would best portray by the color of the film box itself.
Kodak would be yellow and red, Fuji would be green and blue. I found Agfachrome with a silver and tan box would render nice pastels.
Jan 8, 2021 17:02:25 #
Jan 8, 2021 17:23:35 #
Jan 8, 2021 18:20:31 #
Jan 8, 2021 18:38:16 #
ejpeters wrote:
Beautiful and great information! My family comes from County Kilkenny.
Thanks so much EJ. Glad that I could show you some of the "old sod". Stay tuned for more Kilkenny posts.
Jan 8, 2021 18:40:21 #
Toment wrote:
Beautiful story and Abbey.
Went to a Dominican high school in Illinois.
Go Friars!
Thanks for sharing
Went to a Dominican high school in Illinois.
Go Friars!
Thanks for sharing
Thanks so9 much for your comments Toment.
Jan 8, 2021 18:40:47 #
joecichjr wrote:
Certainly beautiful shots of an incredible place 
Thanks very much Joe.
Jan 8, 2021 18:43:41 #
flip1948 wrote:
Nice set. All of that lush green featured in your many Ireland posts just screams for Fujichrome.
I read an article many years ago in which the author posited that you could tell the colors film would best portray by the color of the film box itself.
Kodak would be yellow and red, Fuji would be green and blue. I found Agfachrome with a silver and tan box would render nice pastels.
I read an article many years ago in which the author posited that you could tell the colors film would best portray by the color of the film box itself.
Kodak would be yellow and red, Fuji would be green and blue. I found Agfachrome with a silver and tan box would render nice pastels.
Thanks for commenting flip. I'm scanning old slides - most on Kodachrome 25 or 64 but I do remember using Fujichrome for a time. So pleased that you're enjoying the Ireland posts.
Jan 8, 2021 18:46:12 #
kpmac wrote:
Really nice, Mark. I really like two and three.
Thanks very much Ken. I debated about 3 because of the people in the shot but I really loved that spot - especially the stained glass framing the statue.
Jan 8, 2021 18:46:38 #
Jan 8, 2021 18:47:16 #
UTMike wrote:
Beautiful structure, Mark. Good work on the stained glass.
Thanks so0 much Mike. I appreciate!
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