BREAKING: Shock closure announced of this Tipperary church that is over 700 years old

It has been announced that the Abbey House of Prayer in Clonmel, formerly the town's Franciscan Friary Church, will close on December 31. 

The construction of the friary can be traced back to 1269 and some of the original 13th Century building still survives to this day.

In a statement published by the Franciscan Province of Ireland today the group said:

"Following the closure of the Franciscan Friary, Clonmel, in 2023 and the withdrawal of the Franciscan Community, the Abbey Prayer Group took responsibility for keeping the church open for prayer from June 2023 until now.

"The Abbey Prayer Group has done sterling work on behalf of the people of Clonmel. However, notwithstanding the group’s strenuous efforts, the Franciscans have decided that it is no longer possible to keep the church open. So, it is with regret and sadness they announce that the church will close permanently on the evening of the 31st December 2024. We have not decided on the future of the Church at this time.

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"We remain very grateful to the Abbey Prayer Group and to Bishop Alphonsus for their endeavours with regard to the church building and we acknowledge that this announcement will come as a great disappointment.

"The Franciscans will be forever grateful to the people of Clonmel for their support and friendship over the centuries and we will keep them in our Prayers."

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