Commonly known as Sligo Abbey, this Dominican friary was founded in the mid-13th century by Maurice FitzGerald, a powerful Anglo-Norman lord who helped establish the medieval town of Sligo. For centuries, the friars served as a religious presence in a region shaped by both Gaelic Irish and Anglo-Norman traditions.

The friary endured repeated destruction and renewal. A fire devastated the buildings in 1414, but the community rebuilt them, adding features that survive today. The site suffered further violence in 1642, when it was attacked and burned during the conflicts of the period.

Despite these upheavals, Sligo Abbey retains an extraordinary collection of medieval stonework, including its preserved cloister, carved tombs, and a remarkable 15th-century sculptured high altar—one of the rarest survivals of its kind in Ireland. Its weathered stones preserve the memory of centuries of prayer, conflict, and renewal in the heart of Sligo town.