monastic sites ireland

Holy Cross Monastery
Thurles is remembered for being the town where Michael Cusack and his friends, formed the G.A.A. It is also known as the town which hosted Feile for a number of years, where teenagers made the "Trip to Tip." But outside Thurles, is the Holy Cross Abbey, which was founded in 1169 by the King of Thomond of the Cistercian monks. A relic of the true cross owned by the King was given to the Abbey.

It was very prosperous and several of the Abbots were peers of...

Two very early, possibly 8th century, High Crosses have elaborate and varied abstract patterns on the heads and shafts. the base of the larger north cross has Christ giving their mission to the Apostles, two processions and an uncertain animal scene. The south cross has the mission again, Daniel in the Lion's Den, Adam and Eve. A camera lens will note the detail far better than the eye in all but the most ideal slanted light. This is an important site in the development of Irish art. H...

The ancient monastery of Kilmalkedar, founded in the seventh century by St Maolcathair, is one of the foremost Early Christian sites of the Dingle Peninsula. The existing church is a twelfth-century building consisting of a nave to which a chancel was added at a later date, as was the usual practice. Many of the features which typify Irish Romanesque architecture are present. The bold antae with animal-head decoration are well preserved, as is the round-headed doorway with blank tympanum. Th...

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....

Some 2 km northwards on this road is Noughaval, an ancient monastic site which continued to be occupied up to the 19th century. The remains of the church show that it was built and restored at different times, from the 12th to the 14th centuries. A short distance from the church is a stone-roofed memorial chapel of the O'Davoren family. It was built in 1725 by James Davoren of Lisdoonvarna....

Glendalough Monastery was founded by St. Kevin, in the 6th century. St. Kevin is perhaps unfairly linked to a poetic legend. While living in a cave as a hermit, he was supposedly pursued by a woman, who tried to seduce him. In a rage, he hurled her over the cliff, and into the lake, but there is no evidence to support this story. But his cave, which is located in the upper part of the lake is known as 'St. Kevin's Bed'.
Glendalough has a fabulous collection of buildings including the C...

Dysert O'Dea is renowned for its wealth of historical and archelogical remains....

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...

Ballintubber Abbey was founded in 1216 by Cathal Crobhdearg O'Connor, King of Connacht, near the site of the church built by St. Patrick in 441. Despite the Abbey's turbulent history, which included repression and burning, the Abbey 'refused to die' and now has the unique status of being Ireland's only royal Abbey which has been in continuous use for over 780 years. Spend some time in Ballintubber and Stroll around the grounds of the Abbey. Pray within its hallowed walls. Visit the Interpr...

Some 3 km further on, left, are the striking remains of this former episcopal centre. St. Colman, the MacDuagh referred to, founded the monastery in the 6th century. He was a kinsman of King Guarie of Gort, who donated the site. The monastic remains comprise the Church of Ireland cathedral, part of which dates from the 10th century; a fine example of round tower structure which has a notable lean from the perpendicular; John the Baptist's church, north-northeast of the Cathedral, now in ruins...