John Fitzthomas Fitzgerald, the 5th Lord of Offaly and 1st Earl of Kildare, welcomed the Augustinians to Adare in 1315 with gifts of land in exchange for establishing a monastery. Adare Friary was known as the Black Abbey based on the monks’ habits. The friars abandoned the property in 1633. During the early 19th century, the Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl funded a restoration. Since 1811, this former Augustinian Abbey has served the Anglican community as St. Nicholas’ Church. In 1814, the St. Nicholas’ National School was added.
