Ennis

Ennis grew on ground encircled by the River Fergus, near the O'Brien stronghold of Clonroad in Thomond. A Franciscan friary was established here in the thirteenth century under O'Brien patronage, and a market town gradually developed around it. Its church became a place of burial and devotion for the ruling family, whose support sustained the community for generations.

The friary was formally suppressed in 1543, but the friars continued their work in and around Ennis. The town became a borough in 1613, as the political order of Thomond changed under English rule. Religious life adapted to these changes: the Franciscans found refuge in houses outside the town even after losing their former establishment, while the friary buildings remained a prominent feature of Ennis.