Esker Friary was a monastery established by the Dominican Friars – Regular Observance.
It was founded originally after 1622, on a site granted by Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde, at the request of the Provincial, Fr Ross Mageoghegan, and other friars.
[1] Esker was used at various times as a Novitiate and for formation of members of the order, where students would study philosophy.
[3] The Dominican friars left Esker in the late 19th century, handing the convent over to the Diocese of Clonfert in 1893, who used it for a short time for clerical training.
The Redemptorists used Esker as a novitiate, with members going on to take degrees in University College Galway.