abbeys ireland

The Abbey of St. John, called after St. John the Baptist, was situated on a lofty eminence and was endowed in the days of St. Patrick. It passed into the ownership of a Mr. Hudson, who called it the Manor of St. John and today gives us the name Hodson Bay. The annual feastday was on the 25th June and, for years, large numbers gathered there to celebrate the feast. But, in later years, the scene changed and dealers from Athlone availed of the opportunity to set up a market where everything from...

Standing on an earlier monastic site founded by St. Cronan (of Tuamgraney?), the Church was granted to the Augustinian Canons of Clareabbey by Donal Mor O'Brien in 1189. The church, with its unusual east window with foliage decoration on the outside, probably dates to this period. By 1302 it had become a parish church. In the 15th century conventual buildings (of which parts remain), a sacristy and south transept were added. it was granted to Donogh, Earl of Thomond, in 1620. It is idyllica...

As you travel from Keadue to Ballyfarnon you reach Kilronan Cemetery containing the ruins of Kilronan Abbey, built in the 6th century. Twice burned down, it was last rebuilt in the 17th century. In the cemetery is the grave of Turlough O'Carolan, harper, composer, poet and singer.

Born in Nobber, Co.Meath, in 1670 and blinded by smallpox as a child, he came to the home of Mrs. McDermott Roe of Alderford, Ballyfarnon, who befriended him. Having educated him and furthered his musical st...

This abbey is situated a short distance outside the town and was first a Cistercian then a Benedictine Monastery. The remains consist of portions of the cloister and two chapels in each transept. A tower was added in the 15th century....

The Rock of Cashel, rising out of the surrounding plain, is the most dramatic of all Irish monuments. It first appears as a fortification of the Eoghanachta kings of Munster in the 4th century. It was allegedly visited by St. Patrick who converted Aenghus, the king of the time; by mistake, St. Patrick stuck his crosier through the king's foot during the baptism, and the king bore it with fortitude thinking that it was part of the ceremony. St. Patrick made Cashel into a bishopric; its best-kn...

Dating back to 1170 Dunbrody is an excellent example of a Cistercian Monastery in Ireland. It's located about 8 miles south of the County Wexford town of New Ross.
The site of the ruins of Dunbrody Castle now houses a craft shop with quality hand-made local crafts. There is a small museum within the tearooms with family information and a very large dolls house - a scale replica of the castle. There is a small pitch and putt course and a full size hedge maze - one of only two in Ireland...

St Francis Abbey founded by Richard Marshall in 1234, the church walls and belfry tower of this Franciscan foundation are preserved on their original site, now the yard of Smithwick's Brewery....

A Cistercian Abbey built in 1200 AD. Currently under restoration. Founded by William the Earl Marshal, in fulfillment of his promise - made when on a stormy sea voyage - to do so if the Lord spared him....

Jerpoint Abbey is located about 1 mile from Thomastown and is undoubtedly one of the finest Cistercian monastic ruins in Ireland. The Abbey was founded by Donal Mac Gillapatrick, King of Ossory, in 1158 for the Benedictines, but it was later colonised by the Cistercians from Baltinglass in 1180. Jerpoint, in its turn, became the mother house for the Abbeys of Kilcooly, Co. Tipperary and Kilkenny in 1184. In 1227 it became affiliated to Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire. After the dissolution of the M...

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...