Askeaton Abbey is built on the banks of the river Deel, a tributary of the River Shannon and only five kilometres from it.
The former Franciscan Abbey is beside and part of the town of Askeaton in County Limerick, some 40 kilometres from Limerick City.
The structure of the building is still in good condition.
Some of its features include its cloisters, the beautiful transepts, the Stephenson mural tablet, the east window, the carving of St Francis and the chapter room, which is the final resting place of two Irish martyrs.
On Oct 1579 after failing to take Askeaton Castle, Sir Nicholas Malby attacked the abbey, set fire to the town of Askeaton, in the abbey he put a number of monks to death.
In 1627 the friars returned to live among the ruins of the abbey.
The Catholic Confederate Forces, who had taken control of the castle in 1642, helped to repair parts of the structure and it was re-established in 1643.
The castle was abandoned to crown forces in 1580 - its walls blown up by the fleeing Spanish defenders - after the fall of Carrigafoyle Castle to the English during the Desmond Rebellions.
