The Franciscan Friary Building in Clonmel is to close on December 31st.
Independent TD Mattie McGrath is seeking an urgent meeting with Franciscan Province of Ireland over the planned closure of the Friary – the South Tipperary TD wants to meet with the Minister Provincial of the Franciscan Province of Ireland, Br. Aidan McGrath, to discuss this matter on behalf of the local community.
The Friary was closed in January 2023 as the Franciscan community withdrew from Clonmel ending a relationship that extends back to 1269AD.
Since June 2023, the Abbey Prayer Group, a voluntary committee, has taken responsibility for keeping the church open for prayer 7 days a week and Mass once a week.
Deputy McGrath highlights the community’s deep connection with this historic site saying the “Friary holds a special place in the hearts of those who worship there. It has been a sanctuary for people of all ages, offering a quiet moment of reflection, prayer, and solace. “
The Friary’s closure is attributed to the declining number of friars and recent bereavements within the Franciscan community. The pattern of falling vocations is also impacting the Abbey at Mount Melleray, in the Vee, some 28km away which is to close at the end of January with the 7 Monks on site transferring to St Josephs in Roscrea to create a sustainable Cistercian community at that location.
