monasteranenagh cistercian abbey

This Cistercian abbey was founded by the King of Limerick, Turlough O’Brien around the year 1150 and completed something like thirty years later. The Abbey has seen two battles within its walls. In the first the King of Thomond sought refuge from Brian O’Brian and Macnamaras in the monastery after his defeat in 1365. The second battle occurred during the Desmond rebellion of 1579. In it Sir John of Desmond was defeated by Sir Nicholas Malby, who fought for the English. Malby then turned his cannon on the Irish seeking refuge in the abbey, destroying the refectory and cloister, before putting everyone inside to death. Further damage was done to the site when the belfry and chancel collapsed in 1807 and 1874 respectively.