A New Vision Of St Mary's (The Old Abbey) Drogheda, Ireland

Leo de Freyne

This ruin is situated behind the Callan building at the top of West Street, just across from the

Droichead Arts Centre's Barlow House.

The Old Abbey

Known as the Old Abbey or the Hospital of St. Mary d’Urso, the correct title for this site is the Abbey of St. Mary d’Urso. It was founded by Normans, Ursus de Swemele and his wife, as a hospital for the sick and infirm about 1206. Flooding from the River Boyne did considerable damage to the monastery in 1330. The building was restored mainly thanks to the generosity of the Brandon family. In 1349 the Prior was given a royal grant of privileges. It was later taken in charge by the Augustinian Friars at the end of the 14th Century.

The Observantine Friars reformed this monastery in 1519. The Abbey was finally surrendered in 1543 by the last Prior, Richard Malone, to the Corporation, who proceeded to dispose of the monastic properties by lease.

All that remains of the Abbey is the central belfry tower, surmounting a Gothic archway, with another fragment supported on a similar arch to the east, and a gable wall to the west.

Gardening

During the last week of June 2010, I cut paths through the dense growth which covered this site.

I did some drawing here. I took these photographs.

I had no plan when I began. I simply felt like doing some gardening.

The next slide shows a rough map I've made.

Thank you.