Monastic Sites
Mellifont Abbey
East Ireland | County Louth
Mellifont Abbey is located about 10km east of Drogheda, in County Louth. It was the first Cistercian foundation in Ireland, established in 1142 by Saint Malachy of Armagh, with the help of a handful of monks sent by Saint Bernard from Clairvaux in France. The name Mellifont comes from the Latin "Font Mellis", which means "Fountain of honey". The abbey church... more info and photos
Moybologue Church
Midlands Ireland | County Cavan
Moybologue Church is located in the townland of Relaghabeg, about 5 km from Bailieborough, in County Cavan. The ruins that have survived to present times date back to the Middle Ages, but the first early Christian temple was built here around the 5th century. The church is dedicated to St. Patrick who is believed to be a founder. All that remains of the lat... more info and photos
Drumlane Abbey
Midlands Ireland | County Cavan
Drumlane Abbey and Round Tower are situated on the shore of Derrybrick Lough, just outside of Milltown, in County Cavan. The first monastery was founded here in the Early Christian times. Although the abbey is closely affiliated with St. Mogue (also known as St. Aidan), it is most likely the site was established by St. Columba (St. Colmcille) in the middle o... more info and photos
Knockmoy Abbey
West Ireland | County Galway
Knockmoy is a ruin of the Cistercian abbey located about 13km southeast of Tuam in County Galway. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and was founded in 1190 by Cathal Crovdearg O'Connor, King of Connacht. Shortly before his death, he entered a convent and was buried in the abbey in 1244. The church has a nave, chancel, and a transept with two chapels... more info and photos
Holy Cross Abbey
Midlands Ireland | County Tipperary
Holy Cross Abbey is a Cistercian monastery located in the village of Holycross, about 6 km southwest of Thurles in County Tipperary. It was founded in 1169 as Benedictine Order, but in 1182 Donal Mor O'Brien brought here Cistercian monks from Monasteranenagh. The name Holy Cross comes from a relic, a fragment of the cross on which Jesus was crucified. The p... more info and photos
Ahenny High Crosses
Midlands Ireland | County Tipperary
Ahenny High Crosses are situated on the graveyard of the early Christian monastery of Kilclispeen in Ahenny townland, County Tipperary. They are the part of Ossory group, which are amongst the earliest examples of Celtic high crosses in Ireland. Both crosses are ring-emphasized and have a Bishop's miter on the top. The North Cross has a height of around 3 m ... more info and photos
Kilcooly Abbey
Midlands Ireland | County Tipperary
Kilcooly Cistercian Abbey is located in the village of Gortnahoe, in County Tipperary. It is one of the finest Cistercian Abbeys in Ireland and a great example of Gothic architecture. It was founded in 1182 by Donal Mor O'Brien, the King of Thomond, and became a daughter foundation of the Jerpoint Abbey in County Kilkenny. In 1418, the monastery was attacked... more info and photos
Clonmacnoise
Midlands Ireland | County Offaly
Clonmacnoise is one of Ireland's most iconic monastic sites. Is situated on the banks of River Shannon about 7km northeast of Shannonbridge, in County Offaly. The first early Christian monastery was founded here by Saint Ciarán, in the middle of the 6th century. Clonmacnoise was located at the crossroads of two very important communication routes of medieval... more info and photos
Ardmore Monastic Complex
Southeast Ireland | County Waterford
Monastic Complex in Ardmore, County Waterford is one of the earliest monastic sites in Ireland. It was founded in the late 5th century by St Declan, who began the mission of Christianization before the coming of Saint Patrick. The oldest building of medieval monastic city is St Declan's Oratory from 8th century, which is believed to have been built over the ... more info and photos
Kells Priory
Southeast Ireland | County Kilkenny
The Augustine priory, located in the village of Kells in County Kilkenny is a unique example of a fortified monastery, combining elements of both religious and military medieval architecture. It was founded by Norman knight, Geoffrey Fitzrobert (a brother-in-law to Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow) in c.1193 but most of the existing buildings date from t... more info and photos
Kilmore Cathedral
Midlands Ireland | County Cavan
Kilmore Cathedral is located about 5km southwest of Cavan Town, just off-road R198. The present building dates from 19th century and is dedicated to St Feidhlimidh, who as tradition says, founded the first church on the site in the 6th century. It was raised to the rank of cathedral in the 1450s. The most interesting and famous feature of the cathedral is th... more info and photos
Killeshin Church
Midlands Ireland | County Laois
Killeshin Church (Co. Laois) is located about 5 km north-west of Carlow Town, on the site of an Early Christian monastery founded by St Comdhan in the 5th century. The church was built in the 12th century and has one of the finest Romanesque doorway in Ireland. The doorway has four orders and is made of three kinds of stone: fine-grained brownish-purple sand... more info and photos
Kilkieran High Crosses
Southeast Ireland | County Kilkenny
Kilkieran High Crosses are situated on the site of an early Christian monastery founded by St Ciarán, about 8 km north of Carrick-on-Suir in County Kilkenny. Nothing remains of the old monastery. There are three complete crosses dating from the 9th century, one incomplete, a standing stone, holy well and bullaun stones. The North Cross (or Tall) has a circul... more info and photos
Kilfenora Cathedral and Crosses
West Ireland | County Clare
Kilfenora Cathedral is located on the plateau of Burren in County Clare. It was built in about 1189 on the site of an early monastery founded by St Fachtna in 6th century. The cathedral was simple nave-and-chancel building. The chancel has very well preserved east window of Transitional style and some other noteworthy stonemasons works including 14th-century... more info and photos
Kilconnell Friary
West Ireland | County Galway
Kilconnell Franciscan Friary is located in the east part of County Galway, about 13 km west of Ballinasloe (M6 exit 14 or 15). It was founded in 1353, by William O'Kelly, on the site of a 6th-century monastery built by St Conall. In 1460, friars adopted the Observantine rule of the order. In 1541, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VI... more info and photos
Reask Monastic Site
Southwest Ireland | County Kerry
Reask are ruins of the early monastic settlement located about 1 km east of Ballyferriter village on the west end of Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry. This is a very interesting example of the early medieval ecclesiastical site, dating back to about the 6th century. The ruins of Reask were revealed during the excavations carried out by archaeologist Tom Fannin... more info and photos
Creevelea Abbey
Northwest Ireland | County Leitrim
Creevelea Abbey is situated on the outskirts of Dromahair village in County Leitrim. It was founded in 1508 by Owen O'Rourke and his wife Margaret O'Brien being the last Franciscan friary built in Ireland before the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. Abbey was partly destroyed by an accidental fire in 1536, and restoration wasn't complete because ... more info and photos
St Patrick's Cathedral
East Ireland | County Dublin
St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin is largest church in Ireland and is one of the most visited tourist attractions. It was built on the place of sacred well where St Patrick is said to have baptized converts around 450 AD. The wooden church was established here in 10th century and remained until 1192, when John Comyn, first Anglo-Norman Archbishop of Dublin, b... more info and photos
Boyle Abbey
Midlands Ireland | County Roscommon
The well preserved Cistercian Abbey in Boyle, in County Roscommon, was founded in 1161 under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts and colonized by monks from Mellifont, County Louth. It was the first monastery of the Cistercian order in Connacht. It has the conventional cruciform plan, with a nave and aisles, a transept with four chapels... more info and photos
Carrowntemple Grave Slabs
Northwest Ireland | County Sligo
Carrowntemple Grave Slabs are located on the graveyard of ruined medieval church of Kilfree, near Gurteen, in County Sligo. There are twelve replicas of fourteen early Christian grave slabs, which have been found to the south and east of the church within the old graveyard. Most of them are Cross Slabs but some have different patterns as spirals, and abstrac... more info and photos
Monasterboice
East Ireland | County Louth
Monasterboice is a ruin of early Christian settlement located 10km northwest of Drogheda (just of M1 motorway). The remains of two churches dates from late medieval period but first monastery was founded here in 6th century by Saint Buithe. There is also 28m high, roofless round towrer, which was burnt in 1097. The monastery functioned until 1122, there are ... more info and photos
Baltinglass Abbey
East Ireland | County Wicklow
The ruins of Cistercian monastery located in Baltinglass (Co. Wicklow), date back to the 1148. The Baltinglass Abbey was founded by King of Leinster, Diarmait MacMurchada (most known for inviting Normans to Ireland to help him to fight his political rivals) and colonised by monks from Melinfort Abbey in Co. Louth. In its heyday it was live thriving place, w... more info and photos
Quin Friary
West Ireland | County Clare
The well preserved friary in Quin, County Clare, was founded around 1402 by MacNamara clan for franciscan friars, and became an Observant Reformed house in 1433. It was established on the ruins of four-towered Norman castle built here by Thomas de Clare around 1280, and destroyed by native Irish clans after winnig battle of Dysert O'Dea in 1318. The remain... more info and photos
St Tola's Church
West Ireland | County Clare
St Tola's Church, also known as Dysert O'Dea Abbey is located about 4 km south of Corofin town in County Clare, near Dysert O'Dea Castle. The ruins which have survived to this day, date from 12th century and was altered few times throughout its existence, but first monastic settlement was founded here in 8th century by St Tola. The most notable feature of th... more info and photos
Rock of Cashel
Midlands Ireland | County Tipperary
The iconic complex of Medieval buildings, the Rock of Cashel, is located in the town of Cashel, at the heart of County Tipperary, just off the M8 motorway. This one of the most important and most visited tourist attraction in Ireland is spectacularly situated on a limestone outcrop, proudly overlooking surrounding plains of the Golden Vale. It is also known ... more info and photos
Kylemore Abbey
West Ireland | County Galway
Kylemore Abbey is located in the heart of Connemara in County Galway and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland. Before it became home for Irish Benedictine Nuns it was a privat castle built by Mitchell Henry in 1860's as gift for his wife Margaret. The estate was designed by James Franklin Fuller and is beautifully situated on lake shore,... more info and photos
Clonfert Cathedral
West Ireland | County Galway
The small Cathedral located in Clonfert, in east County Galway is truly a hidden gem, which has one of the best examples of Hiberno-Romanesque decoration in Ireland. The first early Christian monastery was established here in the 6th century by St Brendan the Navigator and it's said that the Saint himself is buried in the churchyard. The monastery was a impo... more info and photos
Killemlagh Church
Southwest Ireland | County Kerry
Killemlagh Church (Cill Imleach) is a ruin of an Irish Romanesque church dating from 12th century. Is said to have been built on the place of early Christian monastery founded by St Finian. In 19th century the new chapel was attached to already ruined medieval church. Killemlagh is situated on picturesque Skellig Ring Drive between the villages of Portmagee ... more info and photos
Muckross Friary
Southwest Ireland | County Kerry
Muckross Friary is located in Killarney National Park just about 1.5km from Muckross House and Gardens (about 4,5 km south of Killarney, just off the road N71). It was founded by Donal MacCarthy Mór in 1448 for Observantine Franciscans. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1540s friary was officialy suspended but friars stayed there until they wer... more info and photos
Kilfane Church
Southeast Ireland | County Kilkenny
Kilfane Church is located about 5 km north east from Thomastown in County Kilkenny. The ruins which survived to this day, dates from the 14th or 15th century but also some features from older structure are still visible. A 13th century sedilia near the altar is believed to have come from an earlier church. Defensive tower adjoining the church had residentia... more info and photos
St. Mary Church, Gowran
Southeast Ireland | County Kilkenny
The Saint Mary's Collegiate Church is situated in the centre of Gowran village in County Kilkenny. The church was built in 1225 and is believed that at that time it was the only known church in Ireland with square tower in the centre. Over the centuries many changes has undergone . In the 15th century tower was strengthened and raised, and the battlements ... more info and photos
Jerpoint Abbey
Southeast Ireland | County Kilkenny
Jerpoint is ruined Cistercian abbey located about 2 km southwest of Thomastown (road R448), in County Kilkenny. Abbey was founded probably by Donal MacGillapatrick King of Ossory, around 1160. The monks of the Cistercian Order from Baltinglass Abbey (Co Wicklow) moved there around the 1180 and probably then much of the construction was completed. Jerpoint A... more info and photos
Corcomroe Abbey
West Ireland | County Clare
Corcomroe Abbey, located in the north of the Burren region (aprox 8km east of Ballyvaughan), County Clare, is an early 13th-century Cistercian monastery of which the foundation is attributed either to Donal Mór Ua Briain (Donald O'Brien), or his successor Donough Cairbreach. They were chieftains of the powerful O'Brien clan and the founders of many other rel... more info and photos
Kildreelig Early Christian Site
Southwest Ireland | County Kerry
Kildreelig Early Christian Site is located in southeastern part of Bolus Head, 4.5km southwest from Ballinskelligs (just 1km further than Kilrelig Artist Retreat Village), in County Kerry. The remains of this early Christian settlement dates from 8th century and contains ruins of oratory and huts, souterrain and part of enclosing wall, but the most remarkab... more info and photos
Tully Church and High Crosses
East Ireland | County Dublin
Remains of Tully Church are located in Laughanstown near Cabinteely, on southern suburbs of Dublin. The site consists of ruined medieval church and two stone high crosses and is reputed to be dedicated to St. Bridget. The exact date of construction of first church in this place is unknown but the remains of foundation of the early nave may be from 9th centur... more info and photos
Clontuskert Augustinian Priory
West Ireland | County Galway
The ruins of Augustinian Priory of St Mary also known as Clontuskert Abbey is located 5 km south from Ballinasloe (just off road R355) in County Galway. It was founded in the 12th century by Turlough O'Connor (King of Connaught) on the site of an earlier monastery established in the 7th century by St Baeden but there are no surviving remains from that perio... more info and photos
Hill of Slane
East Ireland | County Meath
Hill of Slane located in County Meath (visible from road N2 in Slane Village) has been associated with Christianity in Ireland since its earliest days. The legend says that here, on Easter 433 AD St Patrick lit the first paschal fire, which was against druidic law. As a consequence of this incident he was hauled before King Laoghaire (pagan High King of Tara... more info and photos
Ballintubber Abbey
West Ireland | County Mayo
Ballintubber Abbey (Tobar Padraic) is located 12 km south of Castlebar, near the village of Ballintubber (2km off road N84) in County Mayo. It was founded in 1216 by King of Connacht, Cathal O’Conor (Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair) and is known as the Ireland’s only royal abbey that has been in continuous use until today. Even in the time of dissolution of ... more info and photos
Ferns Abbey
Southeast Ireland | County Wexford
St. Mary's Abbey is a ruin of Augustinian monastery located in historic village of Ferns, founded by King Dermot MacMurrough in 1158, who died in 1171 and was buried in abbey grounds. The monastery was built on the site of an Early Christian settlement founded by St Aidan in AD 598, which was repeatedly plundered by the Vikings between years 834 and 937, ... more info and photos
Dalkey Island
East Ireland | County Dublin
Dalkey Island a small, uninhabited, picturesque landmass situated just 300 m of the Coliemore Harbour, near Dalkey Village, southern suburb of Dublin. The oldest building on the island is ruin of St Begnet's church from between 9th and 10th Century, but excavations from 1950's revealed evidence of continuous human activity on the island since neolithic pe... more info and photos
Kilmalkedar Church
Southwest Ireland | County Kerry
Kilmalkedar Church (Cill Maolcheadair) is located 8 km to the northwest of the town of Dingle (road R559), on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. This twelve-century Romanesque church was built on the site of an early-Christian monastic settlement from the 7th century, founded by St. Malkedar - grandson of the King of Ulster. The church consists of the nav... more info and photos
Cooley Cross and Skull House
Northwest Ireland | County Donegal
Cooley Cross and Skull House are located just 1,5 km from Town of Moville towards Cooley Village (west of Moville), on Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal. It was important site for pagan worship in pre-Christian times, and then transformed into an early Christian settlement (there is no exact datas, who and when founded the monastery, but it's believed, t... more info and photos
Timahoe Round Tower
Midlands Ireland | County Laois
Timahoe Round Tower is located in the village of Timahoe about 12 km southeast from town of Portlaoise (road R426) in County Laois. The name "Timahoe" comes from "Tigh Mochua", what means House of Mochua (St Mochua was hermit who founded here the first monastic settlement in 7th century). The settlement was raided and the oratory was burned in 919 and again ... more info and photos
Cloncha Church and High Cross
Northwest Ireland | County Donegal
Cloncha Church and High Cross are located near Culdaff village on Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal. The remains of the Cloncha Church (Church of Ireland) dates from 17th century and was built on the site of an earlier monastery, founded by St Buodan around the 6th century. The lintel over the west door of the church has figure carvings and is derived f... more info and photos
Meelick Round Tower
West Ireland | County Mayo
Meelick Round Tower is located about 6 km southwest from Swinford in County Mayo (on a side road just next to the N5). It was built probably at some time between 923 and 1013 AD and is the only preserved structure of the St. Broccaidh's monastery which was here. The tower is about 21m high, its diameter is close to 5.5 m and the doorway is placed 3,5 m above... more info and photos
Turlough Round Tower
West Ireland | County Mayo
Turlough Round Tower is located around 7 km northeast of Castlebar on the north side of the N5 just outside of Turlough Village in County Mayo (near the National Museum of Folk Life). Constructed in 9th century its one of the earliest round towers in Ireland. It is about 23m high and close to 5.5 m diameter what makes the tower look short and squat. It has r... more info and photos
Burrishoole Friary
West Ireland | County Mayo
Burrishoole Friary is the ruin of the Dominican friary dedicated to St Mary, located 2,5km northwest of Newport, in County Mayo. It was founded around 1470 by Richard de Burgo of Turlough, who took the habit under the Dominican Order for the last three years of his life. He built the abbey without pope's permission and the friary was excommunicated until 148... more info and photos
Skellig Islands
Southwest Ireland | County Kerry
The Skellig Islands (Irish: Na Scealaga) are two small, rocky islands : Great Skellig (also known as Skellig Michael) and Little Skellig. Islands are located about 12 km off the coast of Portmagee on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. The Skellig Micheal is renowned for its Early Christian Monastic Settlement (designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site... more info and photos
Gallarus Oratory
Southwest Ireland | County Kerry
Gallarus Oratory (Irish: Séipéilín Ghallarais, what means "The Church of the Place of the Foreigners") located on the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, it is probably early Christian church. Is believed to have been built between the 6th century and 9th century. There is no clear evidence when and by whom was built but one is sure, it was built with perfect pr... more info and photos
Glendalough
East Ireland | County Wicklow
Glendalough – (vally of two lakes) one of the most important Early Christian monastic sites in Ireland. The monastery was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and flourished throughout the next centuries. It was known in Europe at that time, as a center of learning(knowledge). Monastic settlement survived several Viking raids in 9th and 10th century and... more info and photos
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Holy Island (Inis Cealtra)
West Ireland | County Clare
Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) is a small inland island located on Lough (lake) Derg, near Mountshannon Village in county Clare. The place is known because of located there ruins of monastic complex. The monastery was founded by St. Colum of Terryglass in 6th century. ln the mid-7th century, St. Caimin built a small church. The settlement was pillaged by the Vik... more info and photos
Dunbrody Abbey
Southeast Ireland | County Wexford
Dunbrody Abbey is a Cistercian monastery ruin located on Hook Peninsula in county Wexford. Was founded by Hervey de Montmarisco (uncle of Strongbow - one of the first Normans who arrived to settle Ireland) in the 1170s. Modest appearance and impressive size of monastic complex (it has one of the largest naves of all Irish churches) makes it uniqe. Durin... more info and photos
Tintern Abbey
Southeast Ireland | County Wexford
Tintern Abbey, Hook Head Peninsula, county Wexford - the ruins of the Cistercian abbey, founded about the year 1200 by the Anglo-Norman William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and Lord of Leinster. During his first journey to Ireland his boat was caught in storm near Bannow Bay. He vowed to fund the abbey in this area, if he survives. The name "Tintern" was given ... more info and photos
Temple Cronan
West Ireland | County Clare
Temple Cronan is a small church, sited inside a small walled enclosure located 1.5km north-east from village of Carran, in east part of Burren, County Clare. It was built in the 12th century and in those days, it was monastic settlement containing the church, two shrines, termon (peace of land around a church giving right of sanctuary), at least one termon ... more info and photos
Kilmacduagh
West Ireland | County Galway
Kilmacduagh (Cill Mhic Dhuach) was founded by St Colman Mac Duach early in the 7th century. Kilmacduagh has one of the finest collection of monastic, buildings in Ireland. The churches were plundered in the 13th century but the site remained the seat of a Bishop until the 16th century. The modern diocese still bears the name of the early monastery. The Cathe... more info and photos