Augustinian Friary of the Most Holy Trinity, Dublin

Archdall in his 'Monasticon' [26] states "This monastery was very considerable, erected on the banks of the River Liffey, and was the General College for all the Augustinian Friers in Ireland".

While the Augustinians date their history to their St Augustine (354-430) a Bishop in Hippo, North Africa, it wasn’t until the early 13th century in Tuscany, Italy that they formally developed.

The Augustinians at the time numbered several learned friars in their ranks and they would later establish houses at Oxford 1266 and at Cambridge (1289) ……… Patronage came from a wealthy Norman Family in Dublin - The Tablots …..

The site, donated by the Talbot Family, was located on the banks of the Liffey in open countryside and to the east of the city walls …..The Friary itself was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and was described by the 18th century historian Mervyn Archdall as a very considerable foundation.

Archdall in his 'Monasticon' [26] states "This monastery was very considerable, erected on the banks of the River Liffey, and was the General College for all the Augustinian Friers in Ireland".

The growth in numbers and in houses of Augustinian Friars in the 14th century received a severe setback with the outbreak of the Black Death (Plague) in 1348 …..

The Archbishop of Dublin, John Allen noted this when in 1535 he said “the hermit friars of St, Augustines are distinguished in learning and surpass all other mendicants in excellence”.

Decline & Dispersal - The break (in c.1529) between Henry VIII and Rome over the refusal of Pope Clement VII to grant him a divorce from Catherine his wife, had major repercussions for all religious orders and their properties one both Britain and Ireland.

With Henry assuming the role of head of The Church of England, the Augustinian Prior General was effectively prevented from excreting any supervision of the Order where the English province was concerned.

Within a couple of years of Stuart King James I) ….. a royal proclamation ordered all priests out of Ireland, with fines for the recalcitrant and rewards for informers.