Ennis Friary
Ennis Friary
4.5
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4.5
354 reviews
Excellent
175
Very good
143
Average
33
Poor
2
Terrible
1
StephenInWSeattle
Seattle, WA559 contributions
Jul 2022
Stopped by the Ennis Friary om a mission to investigate a story. Met Aoife and Ruth, which was a blessing as both were friendly and helpful. Aoife was especially interested in a story we had heard and took time to help investigate on several websites she knew from the local area in order to help us find out more information. Although we have not solved our puzzle yet, her help and determination were so appreciated and she is an amazing ambassador for the Ennis Friary. Now, the friary was amazing in it's own right. History of the location and the building were well documented and well preserved. What a gem for the town of Ennis and a must see if you visit! Thank you Aoife and Ruth for your help and passion for the friary!
Written 22 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patti K
Bellevue, WA45 contributions
Jun 2022
The staff there welcomed us warmly and gave us a brief history tour, then let us roam freely. This place is very old, one of the earliest monastaries in Ireland. One of the docents looked up my family ancestry names in a book for me. She was extremely helpful.
Written 28 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlbertSalichs
Manresa, Spain23,008 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Ennis Friary is located in the homonymous town, a little one in County Clare, in Western Ireland. It is an old Franciscan friary, which was built in the 13th Century. It was suppressed in the 16th Century and after it was abandoned. Nowadays, it is located in the middle of the town and you can visit it and especially the main building, which is very well preserved. Very nice visit.
(See also Quin Abbey, Clare Abbey and The Abbey Tavern)
(See also Quin Abbey, Clare Abbey and The Abbey Tavern)
Written 16 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lia M
Province of Munster, Ireland181 contributions
Sept 2021
Centre of town location, worth a look, nice photo opportunities, interesting. Can be seen in 30 minutes or less. Don't miss the chance for a look. Nice history and culture. Lovely to look at
Written 10 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James H
Chicago, IL22 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
Went on this tour with three generations, my father and my 16-year-old son. We really enjoyed it, especially with our tour guide Adrian. He had a lot of interesting facts and pointed out a lot of the sculptures for us. A nice stop in Ennis.
Written 9 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judith38Cork_Ireland
Cork, Ireland133 contributions
Jul 2012 • Family
Ennis Friary is definitely worth visiting. Due to recent work, it is now roofed so can be enjoyed whether it is a wet or dry day. On our visit, we were lucky to meet a guide by the name of Brendan Kelly who was very knowledgeable - not surprising, given his archaeological studies. In the past, the main benefactors of the friary were the O'Briens, McMahons and Creaghs. Their tombs are works of art. There is also an interesting image of St Francis with the stigmata. I found the place to be very atmospheric and it is free to visit in 2012 while renovations are underway. Its location is convenient, being in the centre of town.
Written 8 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Koffiegirl
Santa Barbara15 contributions
The friary is fantastic!!! Especially if you have Irish roots, it is so deeply satisfying to view the spiritual and working life of these Thirteenth Century friars. The delicate, remarkable carvings are unbelievable. And, unlike many of the Irish sites I visited in late October, it was actually open and charged only a nominal fee.
Getting a guided tour is important. I had a calm, likable fellow who took the time to explain the detailed history. He was fantastically patient, despite my fumbling of foreign coins and asking him to repeat a few things due to my Protestant background, (the place having a lot of culturally Catholic aspects), and American ear. I actually visited twice, the first time with no tour or jacket despite some light rain. I cannot overly emphasize how getting some direction improves the experience.
The Stigmata, carved woman with a Middle Ages headdress, old symbol that is rubbed for good luck, high above carving of St. Francis' face, and the structure of the friary itself........all AMAZING!!! Walking around the church reading headstones was interesting and a bit sad. Some of the old inscriptions were incredibly personable and tender toward the lost loved one.
Overall, lots of dramatic, historical gorgeousness that should not be missed.
Getting a guided tour is important. I had a calm, likable fellow who took the time to explain the detailed history. He was fantastically patient, despite my fumbling of foreign coins and asking him to repeat a few things due to my Protestant background, (the place having a lot of culturally Catholic aspects), and American ear. I actually visited twice, the first time with no tour or jacket despite some light rain. I cannot overly emphasize how getting some direction improves the experience.
The Stigmata, carved woman with a Middle Ages headdress, old symbol that is rubbed for good luck, high above carving of St. Francis' face, and the structure of the friary itself........all AMAZING!!! Walking around the church reading headstones was interesting and a bit sad. Some of the old inscriptions were incredibly personable and tender toward the lost loved one.
Overall, lots of dramatic, historical gorgeousness that should not be missed.
Written 4 November 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angelique M
New Zealand186 contributions
Jun 2012 • Couples
Well you are in for a treat, as the friary has just reopened after several years of EU funded renovation and it looks amazing. It is gated now so you have to visit during their opening hours, it opens at 10am.
There are staff there also and very enthusiastic they are too, and keen to answer questions and fill you in on its history.
Well worth a visit, if for no other reason than to see what funding can achieve. I thought it was very positive and will be a valued addition and attraction for Ennis.
There are staff there also and very enthusiastic they are too, and keen to answer questions and fill you in on its history.
Well worth a visit, if for no other reason than to see what funding can achieve. I thought it was very positive and will be a valued addition and attraction for Ennis.
Written 26 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DGandSAG
Sharon, MA804 contributions
Sept 2019
We throughly enjoyed admiring the beautiful architectural ruins and reading the informative displays at the Ennis Friary. While there, it was easy to feel that the rest of the world melted away, as we took our time looking closely at the exhibits and ruins and reading all of the informative wall panels.
Also, the friendly staff from the National Monuments Service who were on duty during our visit clearly had passions for history and for serving the public. Both staff members deserve a special shout-out, as they were incredibly helpful in explaining the history of the complex and the surrounding parts of Ennis.
If you want to experience a peaceful place that transports you quietly back to another time, you'll enjoy a visit at the Ennis Friary.
Also, the friendly staff from the National Monuments Service who were on duty during our visit clearly had passions for history and for serving the public. Both staff members deserve a special shout-out, as they were incredibly helpful in explaining the history of the complex and the surrounding parts of Ennis.
If you want to experience a peaceful place that transports you quietly back to another time, you'll enjoy a visit at the Ennis Friary.
Written 7 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justine28
Yellowknife, Canada2,199 contributions
We actually stopped at Ennis Friary by chance really - it was simply on our way to County Clare coast and Burren, we though we'll have a little break and have a quick bite... The Friary was one of few attractions listed for Ennis and we though we give it a go...
It really took us by surprise but the Friary is actually one of the most amazing and gracious landmarks/ ruins we've seen in all of Ireland. It's kept real well and very pictoresque, I think the pics say it all! What's more the entrance fee is less than 2 Euro (think it was 1.60 in the summer) per adult, open from 10 till 6pm daily during summer season; you can obviously spend as much time in here as you wish but if you're on a tight schedule, you can easily have a look around it in 30-45 minutes. Great stop-over when heading to the coast. Definitely a must-see in County Clare!
It really took us by surprise but the Friary is actually one of the most amazing and gracious landmarks/ ruins we've seen in all of Ireland. It's kept real well and very pictoresque, I think the pics say it all! What's more the entrance fee is less than 2 Euro (think it was 1.60 in the summer) per adult, open from 10 till 6pm daily during summer season; you can obviously spend as much time in here as you wish but if you're on a tight schedule, you can easily have a look around it in 30-45 minutes. Great stop-over when heading to the coast. Definitely a must-see in County Clare!
Written 23 March 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We did not have to book in advance. There’s an entrance on off of the street it’s on that takes you into a side building where you pay. From there you enter the friary though the doors.
Written 14 May 2019
No, though they occasionally have free admission days.
Written 13 June 2017
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