800-year-old Irish Carmelite Friary in Castlelyons Vandalized

The gardai (police) in north County Cork are appealing for help in tracking down 'taggers' who targeted the 800-year-old Carmelite foundation in Castlelyon. Although now in ruins, the monastery—a listed National Monument—has been a place of religious devotion for almost 800 years.

Several parts of the standing walls of the Friary and graveyard were tagged with black spray paint. Shocked locals reported the incident to Gardai, who have been asking for help in tracking the taggers down.

Damaging or defacing national monuments in Ireland is a specific criminal offence and carries large penalties. Fines can cost offenders up to €50,000 or 12 months in prison.

Before the incident at the Carmelite friary, another Cork graveyard was targeted by vandals who removed mementos and items families had placed on graves, including toys from the graves of children.

The Castlelyon Carmelite friary was founded around 1307 and most of the existing buildings can be dated to the 15th Century. The first provincial chapter after the restoration of the Irish Province (1741) lists Castlelyon as one of the fourteen houses making up the province. However, the Castlelyon foundation is not listed in documents of the 1819 provincial chapter.