Foundations of a Friary - Symposium, Ballyhaunis

What to Expect

The Augustinian Friary in Ballyhaunis hosts its inaugural “Foundations of a Friary” symposium on Saturday 22 August 2026, the first in what is planned as a series of annual symposia tracing the friary’s six centuries of continuous history, one era at a time. Four specialists in medieval history and architecture will look at how and why the Augustinian friars came to Ballyhaunis, the history of their Order, how friaries of the period were built and arranged, and how they interacted with the faithful they served. This first event focuses on the friary’s founding and how it functioned through the 15th and 16th centuries; a planned second symposium next year will turn to the Reformation and the turbulent 17th century for the Augustinians in Connacht. The day runs from 9:30am to 4pm and includes a light lunch, with proceeds going toward the Friary Preservation Fund.

Ballyhaunis Friary is unusual in having remained in continuous use since its medieval foundation, surviving Reformation-era suppression and the upheavals of the 17th century that closed many similar Augustinian houses elsewhere in Ireland, which is precisely what makes a multi-year symposium series tracing its history one era at a time a viable project. Structuring the talks as an annual series rather than a single day allows the organisers to go into more depth on each historical period than a single general-history lecture could manage, while the ticket price and lunch help cover the costs of bringing in specialist speakers and support the ongoing Friary Preservation Fund.

Good to Know

• Date and time: Saturday 22 August 2026, 9:30am to 4:00pm, light lunch included
• Venue: Augustinian Friary (St Mary’s Abbey), Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo
• Price: EUR 20, available on Eventbrite and on the door
• Proceeds support the Friary Preservation Fund
• First in a planned annual series of symposia on the friary’s six-century history
• Enquiries: 087 411 4628 or paulfxwaldron@gmail.com

Getting There

Ballyhaunis Friary and St Mary’s Abbey stand in the centre of Ballyhaunis, within walking distance of the town’s main car parks. The town is on the N83 between Castlebar and Roscommon, with a railway station on the Dublin-Westport line.