abbeys ireland

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....

William Marshall founded an Abbey here for the Cistercians in 1207, though the monks may have settled here before that date. One of the best preserved Cistercian abbeys in Ireland, its church - splendidly restored in 1974-1980- consists of a nave and chancel with an aisle on each side. Although earlier restorations of 1813 and 1886 have covered much of the walls, the decoration of the capitals and the shapes of the arches can still be seen. The present floor of the church is about 7 feet abov...

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....

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 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 can...

A focal point of the northern midlands where the provinces of Leinster, Ulster and Connaught all converge, Longford, where history and literature, tragedy and triumph are all woven together, takes its name from the ancient stronghold of the O'Farrell family (Long Fort - Fort of the O'Farrells). Bordered to the West by the majestic River Shannon, Longford is a county of rolling plains and picturesque stretches of water. The highest pint of the county, Cairn Hill, is only 279 m high, but from a...

Errew Abbey was founded by the Barretts for the Augustinian Canons in 1413. The church is a long rectangular building; although much of the dressed stonework has fallen, there are some good trefoil windows remaining, as well as a piscina. The ground floor of the domestic buildings is preserved on the eastern wing of the cloister, but otherwise little of these buildings remain. the church, however, antedates the foundation and is of 13th century date. Templenagalliaghdoo: Nearby is a sma...

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...

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...

The building that is now the Abbey was erected in the 1830's as a residence by the Barrington family....