monastic sites ireland

Killinaboy is an early monastic site named after St. Inghean Bhaoth. It has the remains of a church of the 11th or 12th century, over the south door, a Sheila-na-gig, female figure with no ascertainable ecclesiastical significance. On the outside of the west gable is the design of a two bar cross in the masonry. There is also the base of a round tower.

A short distance away on the bank of the River Fergus is an ivy-clad turret and bawn, known as De Clare's House.

About 1.5 k...

Features visits to the site of a monastic settlement established here in the 6th century by St. Mogue; a moat dating from the Norman period and the ruins of a 13th century castle fortress....

Rosserk Friary was founded as a Franciscan Third Order Conventual Friary, this time by the Joyce Family in 1441. Like Moyne Abbey it was destroyed by Bingham. The church here is a cruciform one, with a bell-tower suspended over the chancel arch - an interesting architectural feature. Rosserk Friary and Moyne Abbey are located close to each other, north of Ballina. Moyne was founded by the Burke Family as a Franciscan friary. Built in the late Irish Gothic Style, it was consecrated in 1462....

Situated on the site of an earlier monastery founded in the 7th century, this is an Augustinian Abbey founded possibly in the 12th century, and now in the grounds of Ashford Castle. it probably replaces a church which was burnt in 1137. The present Abbey may have been built by Turlough O'Connor, King of Connacht, or else by one of the O'Duffys. Of the church itself comparatively little remains, and the fine Romanesque doorway was inserted into the north wall in modern times. This doorway con...

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....