The Convent of Kilkenny was founded immediately after.  Its benefactor was the Earl of Pembroke, who was buried in the church.  Here was a remarkable spring, dedicated to St. Francis, at which many miraculous cures are said to have been wrought.  The site occupied by this building was very extensive; its ruins only remain to tell how spacious and beautiful its abbey and church must have been.  It was also remarkable for the learned men who there pursued their literary toil, among whom we may mention the celebrated annalist, Clynn.  He was at first Guardian of the Convent of Carrick-on-Suir; but, about 1338, he retired to Kilkenny, where he compiled the greater part of his Annals.  It is probable that he died about 1350.  His history commences with the Christian era, and is carried down to the year 1349.  At this time the country was all but depopulated by a fearful pestilence.  The good and learned brother seems to have had some forebodings of his impending fate, for his last written words run thus:—­“And, lest the writing should perish with the writer, and the work should fail with the workman, I leave behind me parchment for continuing it; if any man should have the good fortune to survive this calamity, or any one of the race of Adam should escape this pestilence, and live to continue what I have begun.”  This abbey was also one of the great literary schools of Ireland, and had its halls of philosophy and divinity, which, were well attended for many years.

In Dublin the Franciscans were established by the munificence of their great patron, Henry III.  Ralph le Porter granted a site of land in that part of the city where the street still retains the name of the founder of the Seraphic Order.  In 1308 John le Decer proved a great benefactor to the friars, and erected a very beautiful chapel, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, in which he was interred.

But the Convent of Multifarnham was the great glory of this century.  It was erected, in 1236, by Lord Delemere; and from its retired situation, and the powerful protection of its noble patrons, escaped many of the calamities which befell other houses of the Order.  The church and convent were built “in honour of God and St. Francis.”  The monastery itself was of unusual size, and had ample accommodation for a number of friars.  Hence, in times of persecution, it was the usual refuge of the sick and infirm, who were driven from their less favoured homes.  The church was remarkable for its beauty and the richness of its ornaments.  Here were the tombs of its noble founders and patrons; and the south-eastern window was gorgeous with their heraldic devices.  The convent was situated on Lake Derravaragh, and was endowed with many acres of rich land, through which flow the Inny and the Gaine.  Such a position afforded opportunity for mills and agricultural labours, of which the friars were not slow to avail themselves.