monastic sites ireland

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....

Visit the ruins of Achonry Monastery, founded by St Finian of Clonard in the 6th century , 6.5km (4mls) to the north east of the town. St Nathy's Church of Ireland Cathedral is now built on the site....

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 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 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....

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....

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...

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...

Remains of the round tower, of the monastery and of the original stream cutting, believed to have been dug personally by St. Molin, who died in 690 AD, are important in a large collection of early monastic remains. The tiny settlement over looks the deep valley of the River Barrow, which is often compared - favourably - with the Rhine....