monastic sites ireland

This bare and treeless island, often inaccessible because of rough seas and lack of a proper quay, lies 4 miles north-west of Streedagh Point. Charter boat trips leave from Mullaghmore harbour in suitable conditions, the 9-mile crossing taking about 1.5 hours. On the island, abandoned by its small beleaguered population in the 1950s, are a wealth of remains of the early Christian period. The original monastery was founded in the sixth century by St. Molaise and several of the later buildings...

The early Christian monastery of St Daig is marked by the only surviving feature, a Round Tower, which can be seen in the village.

In the 12th century the Augustinians built another monastery on higher ground alongside the Norman Motte which stands above the village.

Little remains of the monastery....

The site of the sixth-century monastery founded by St. Colman. In the eighteenth-century the Cosbys added a morturary-chancel to the remains of the twelfth-century stone roofed church. Note the memorial on the south wall to Thomas Douglas (1630-1734) declaring 'Blest be ye men who spare these bones, Curst be they who move these stones!'...

The monastery of Terryglass which has long since disappeared , took the lead in the great 9th -10th century revival of Irish learning and literature to which we owe much of what is now know about Ireland's remote and pagan past. The oldest personal letter we have is one to the Abbot of Terryglass seeking the works of some poets. The great compilation, THE BOOK OF LEINSTER was, it seems, begun here....

The lake itself is a shallow lagoon separated from the open sea by a shingle bank. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway and is the site of a well known pilgrimage held annually in August. It was the site of an ancient monastery dedicated to Our Lady. The ruins of the Augustinian Priory are still to be seen, as is the Norman tower which leans at a greater angle than the tower at Pisa. The pilgrimage season starts of the 15th August and continues until the 8th September....

The hollowed-out centre makes it difficult to define this monument as a motte, though it may be identical with the Kill Santain or Kilsandel built by John de Courcy towards the close of the 12th century as a place from which he made forays west of the Bann. Excavations at the foot of the monument close to the river produced 13th century pottery and a carbonised branch of 13th century date. To the east, on high ground, is a fenced off area where excavations in 1973-77 uncovered remnants of Meso...

This Cistercian monastery, 3km west of Roscrea (off the R491 road to Cloughjordan), is sited on land which was owned by the monks of Monaicha. The Cistercians came here from Mount Mellery in 1878, to an estate in Ballyskeragh, purchased for the purpose of a monastic foundation by Arthur Moore....

The present Saint Lazerian's Cathedral is a 13th century building. Nearby is the site of a 7th century monastery and also Lazerian's Holy Well, venerated in the area for more than thirteen hundred years. The small pub in the village, Carey's has been in the same family since 1542....

Famous for its perfect 12th-century round tower and ruined Augustinian abbey. Intricately carved 15th-century high cross in graveyard. Small museum. Ferry with a capacity of 12 is licensed for 199 departs Trory Point, 5 km from Enniskillen on A32 direction towards Irvinestown. Contact Mr William McFrederick, Historic Monuments Branch, Enniskillen....

A monastery was founded here in the 6th century and at the synod of Rathbreasail in 1111. Ardcarn was chosen as one of the five dioceses of Connacht. At the synod of Kells in 1152, it was amalgamated with Elphin, Roscommon and Drumcliff to form the present diocese of Elphin.
From 1144 there was a convent of Arrosian nuns at Ardcarn. It was the leading sheep and wool market in Connacht.
Arthur Young described the plains of Boyle as the biggest sheep walk he had ever seen....