abbeys ireland

The only surviving remnant of an early monastery here is the 9th/10th century High Cross situated on a dominant hillock overlooking the lake. It would appear to be the only High Cross in Northern Ireland where the shaft and head of the cross are likely to have belonged together originally. Old Testament scenes decorate the east face (Adam and Eve, Sacrifice of Isaac, Daniel in the Lions' Den and Three Hebrews in the Fiery Furnace) and south side (Cain slaying Abel, David [or Sampson?] and the...

Returning to Bealaclugga, take a left turn off the N67 for Carran. The next left turn leads to Corcomroe (signposted). This was a Cistercian foundation of the 12th century, established in 1180 by Donal Mor O'Brien. The first monks were drawn from Inishlounaght near Clonmel in Co. Tipperary, a Cistercian abbey dating from 1148. The remains include, beside the church, fragments of cloister, an infirmary-guesthouse and gatehouse. The church has an altar-tomb in the north wall of the chancel, s...

Three miles (5km) south of Rathdrum is Whaley Abbey, residence in the eighteenth century of a noted Dublin 'blood' called Buck Whaley. He made a famous bet, which he won , that he would walk to Jerusalem and back within two years....

Two miles (3km) to the north-west is Shelton Abbey, formerly the residence of the Earls of Wicklow and now a state forestry school. The demense is noted for its rhodendrons.
This is now used as a prison since the 1970's....

Donal Mor O'Brien founded a church on this island in the Shannon estuary for the Augustinian Canons some time towards the end of the 12th century. In the 15th century a tower was built to the south of the nave, and two chapels were added. Most of the domestic buildings are of the same period; they comprise a sacristy next to the church, a chapter room in the east side, and a kitchen, a pantry and refectory on the ground floor of the south wing. There were no buildings in the western portion....

This is a remains of a 14th century Cistercian Abbey which is located on the north side of the River Ilen, 1.5km away from Skibbereen....

In 1148 Dermot Mac Murrough brought Cistercian monks here from Mellifont to found a new monastery which he called 'The Valley of Salvation', and Baltinglass in turn was the mother-house of a number of other Cistercian foundations including Jerpoint, Co. Kilkenny. The monastery was the centre of a number of disputes in the 13th century, one with the Archbishop of Dublin and another in which the monks were accused of harbouring 'felons against the English'. In 1377 Abbot Peter was awarded damages...

This was founded in 1241 by Meiler de Bermingham.
Accidentally burned in 1423, it was re-built with a central tower and the present northern doorway. Restored in 1638-44, it was declared a university for the Dominican Order by decree of a General Chapter held in Rome.
In 1652, however the Cromwellians totally wrecked the place....

St. Malachy of Armagh brought a handful of monks with him from Clairvaux and founded the first Irish Cistercian monastery here in 1142, on lands granted by Donogh O'Carroll, Prince of Uriel. St. Bernard of Clairvaux sent a skilful architect named Robert to help build the church, and this is reflected in the rounded chapels in the transepts - which are of Continental origin and which are some of the few remaining portions of the original church. In 1157 the church was consecrated with great pom...

An Early Christian monastery was founded here around 630 by St. Feichin who died of the plague in 664-5. At one time there were 300 monks in the monastery. It was burned in 771, 830 and again in 870, and a number of times in the course of the 11th and 12th centuries. From this old monastery one church - St. Feichin's - survives, standing in a graveyard above the road. Originally it was a simple rectangular building with antae, and with a Greek corss in relief over the flat-headed doorway. A c...