Founded 1225

The Dominicans settled in Kilkenny (their third Irish foundation) in 1225. One might say that there were two Kilkennys at the time: the old settlement, Irishtown, clustered around the ancient cathedral of St Canice, and the High or English town first laid down closer to the Castle about 1203. Between the two, the small Bregach river made its way into the Nore. When the Dominicans came, they chose a site between the two towns, a plot on the south bank of the Bregach. And while this choice may show their impartiality, it is also an example of their preference for sites outside city gates. Then as now, there was much to be said for freedom of movement. The new church was dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. In popular usage, the complex of church and priory came to be known as the Black Abbey, because it was there the Blackfriars lived (Dominicans are also known as Blackfriars fromthe black ‘cappa’ or mantle they wear on occasion over their white habits).

Little now remains of the early church save the lower part of an ancient tower (predating the church), the old nave and its aisle, and the 13^th century Norman tombstones uncovered nearby. Probably in the early decades of the 14^th century the present transept was built. The glory of the Black Abbey lies in its windows: five (of which one was removed before 1791) in the east wall, each having three lights, and the magnificent five-light window, the largest of its kind in the country, which practically fills the gable wall. These windows, which in technical terms belong to the curvilinear phase of the Decorated style, have been classed as the last major work done in Ireland during the first half of the 14^th century.

The terrible plague known as the Black Death, which carried away perhaps a third of the population of Europe, had devastating effect on the Dominican community. Eight of them died in a three-month period in 1349.

No structural alterations seem to have been made at the Black Abbey between the plague-year of 1349 and the end of the 15^th century, but something may have been done to improve the priory building, and more likely still to improve the interior decoration of the church. At all events, there are still two carved figures associated with the church which belong to this particular period.

The first is a 14^th-century limestone figure of St Catherine of Alexandria, protectress of the Order, now kept in the priory museum. The second figure, a representation of the Trinity in alabaster, stands in a glass case attached to the central tower, facing the great Rosary window. Expert opinion assigns it to about the year 1400. The figures 1264 are clearly cut across its base, but no one seems to know why. Neither the use of Arabic numerals, nor the style of the figure itself, would suit so early a date. During the long centuries of the penal era this alabaster Trinity was walled up in a niche within the church, and came to light again only during restoration work in the early 19^th century.

The tower at the junction of the nave, transept and choir was added in the 16^th century. Nor is it any ordinary tower. Leask describes it as the most perfect of all the surviving square-plan towers in the country. “Its subtly battered walls are topped by four pinnacle turrets in the stepped-battlement tradition: the most satisfying, architecturally, of all the tower tops in Ireland.”

In 1540 all the property of the Black Abbey was confiscated by the crown, to be granted three years later to the Corporation. The community withdrew, either to the houses of their friends or to other priories beyond the reach of the crown. During the long reign – more than forty years – of Elizabeth the Irish people began to learn what it was to suffer for the faith. On her death in 1603, hopes rose, for it was thought that the new king, James I, would prove worthy of his Catholic mother, Mary Queen of Scots. With the help of some townspeople the Dominicans broke open the doors of the Black Abbey (then in use as a session-house), pulled down the bars and benches and set up an altar for the celebration of Mass. At this time too, some statues were placed in the church, among them, perhaps, the stone figures of the Trinity and St Catherine mentioned above.