List of monastic houses in County Offaly
The smaller establishments such as monastic cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks) and camerae of the military orders of monks (Knights Templars and Knights Hospitallers) are included. The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have, the status or function of an abbey, priory, or preceptory/commandery.
Layout[]
Communities/provenance: shows the status and communities existing at each establishment, together with such dates as have been established as well as the fate of the establishment after dissolution, and the current status of the site.
Formal name or dedication: shows the formal name of the establishment or the person in whose name the church is dedicated, where known.
Alternative names: some of the establishments have had alternative names over the course of time. In order to assist in text-searching such alternatives in name or spelling have been provided.
Abbreviations and Key[]
| * | current monastic function |
|---|---|
| + | current non-monastic ecclesiastic function |
| ^ | current non-ecclesiastic function |
| = | remains incorporated into later structure |
| # | no identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains |
| ~ | exact site of monastic foundation unknown |
| ø | possibly no such monastic foundation at location |
| ¤ | no such monastic foundation |
| ≈ | identification ambiguous or confused |
Locations with names in italics indicate probable duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented).
| NIEA | Scheduled Monument (NI) |
| NM | National Monument (ROI) |
| C.I. | Church of Ireland |
| R.C. | Roman Catholic Church |
| Foundation | Image | Communities & Provenance | Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names |
OnLine References & Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banagher Monastery | early monastic site; church of St Mary built on site, now ruined |
Bennchore | 53°11′21″N 7°59′13″W / 53.189105°N 7.986848°W | |
| Birr Monastery # | early monastic site, founded before 573 by St Brendan of Birr; plundered by the men of Dublin 842; burned 1167 |
Biorra; Birra; Biror; Parsonstown |
53°05′42″N 7°54′48″W / 53.094924°N 7.913255°W | |
| Clareen Monastery | founded 6th century | St Kieran; Seir Kieran | 52°59′54″N 7°54′45″W / 52.998381°N 7.912584°W | |
| Cloghan Friary ~ | Franciscan Friars purportedly founded c.1595 by the Lord Deputy, Sir William Russell, who took Cloghan Castle from O'Madden[notes 1] — dubious |
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| Clonmacnoise Cathedral and Monastery | 
|
early monastic site; diocesan cathedral 1111; Augustinian Canons Regular founded after 1140; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian? refounded? c.1144; dissolved c.1268; secular college founded 1459;; dissolved 1568 |
Cluain-maccu-nois; Cluain-mic-nois; Cluan; Tipraic, with Eaglais-beaag |
53°19′35″N 7°59′09″W / 53.3262952°N 7.9859075°W |
| Clonmacnoise Abbey | Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian? founded 12th century separate from the cathedral (see immediately above); dissolution date unknown — later abbots (up to 1384) may have been titular |
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| Clonmacnoise Abbey (nuns) | early monastic site, nuns founded before 1026; Augustinian nuns — Arroasian; dependent on Clonard; refounded c.1144? by Devorghilla, daughter of Murchad O Melaghlin; St Mary's church rebuilt dependent on Kilcreevanty 1223; dissolved after 1500? |
St Mary ____________________ Kelbygmieth; Kellogainechan; Riaghtalta Kailleach |
53°19′42″N 7°58′42″W / 53.328413°N 7.978309°W | |
| Clonsast Monastery | early monastic site, founded late 7th century by St Bearchan[notes 2] | Cluain-Sasta | 53°13′18″N 7°08′13″W / 53.221597°N 7.136900°W | |
| Cluain-an-dobhair ~ | early monastic site, not yet identified, possibly located in County Offaly | |||
| Cluain-dachrann Monastery ~ | possible chapel or cell of Rahan, possibly founded by St Carthag | erroneously Clonrane,[notes 3] County Westmeath | ||
| Craebheach Monastery ~ | early monastic site, possibly founded c.450 by St Trian, disciple of St Patrick possibly located in County Offaly, site near the River Brosna, possibly near Clonmacnois |
Croebheach; Craibheach |
||
| Croghan Monastery | early monastic site, founded before 490/492 | Cruachan Bri Eli | 53°20′45″N 7°17′39″W / 53.345900°N 7.294051°W | |
| Drumcullen Monastery ~ | early monastic site, founded before 591, also given located in County Westmeath[notes 4] | Druim-cuilinn | 53°06′19″N 7°43′48″W / 53.105327°N 7.730009°W | |
| Durrow Abbey | early monastic site, founded 556 or 565 by St Colmcille, site granted by Aedh mac Brendain, King of Tethba; burned 1095; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian probable double monastery with Durrow Priory (see immediately below); founded after 1144? by Murchad O'Melaghlin, possibly at the instance of St Malachy; burned 1153; burned twice 1155; destroyed by the Anglo-Normans 1175; founded after; 310,317 |
St Mary ____________________ Dermag-coluim-cille; Diarmag-coluim-cille; Durmag-coluim-cille; Dorro; Dower; Deevo? (sic. County Westmeath) |
53°19′33″N 7°31′11″W / 53.325952°N 7.51967°W | |
| Durrow Priory # | Augustinian nuns — Arroasian dependent on Clonard; probable double monastery with Durrow Abbey (see immediately above); founded after 1144? by Murchad O'Melaghlin, possibly at the instance of St Malachy; dissolved after 1195?, granted to the nuns of Clonard; nuns probably transferred to Killeigh after 1195 |
St Mary | ||
| Gageborough Priory | nuns (order unknown) founded 13th century? by Matilda de Lacy; dissolution unknonwn |
53°23′22″N 7°36′06″W / 53.389338°N 7.601802°W (approx) | ||
| Gallen Priory | 
|
founded 5th century by St Canoc; Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1140-8; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian? possibly adopted at the instance of St Malachy; ruined 1519; plundered 1531 and 1548; probably dissolved before/c. 1585; granted to Sir Gerald More 1612; reoccupied after 1620 probably refounded by the MacCoghlans, benefactors |
Gallimh; Galeang; Galin; Galynn; Glinnensis |
53°15′45″N 7°49′24″W / 53.262616°N 7.823314°W |
| Kilbian Monastery ≈ | early monastic site, founded 583,[notes 5] possibly by St Abban,[notes 6] possibly located in County Offaly | Kilmbian? | ||
| Kilcolgan Monastery | early monastic site, founded by St Colgan son of Kellach | Cell-colgain | 53°16′18″N 7°46′56″W / 53.271625°N 7.782259°W (approx?) | |
| Kilcolman Monastery | early monastic site, founded by St Colman Niger (possibly Colman of Duir-mor) | Cell-colmain; Insula Vitae[notes 7] |
53°02′53″N 7°52′35″W / 53.048184°N 7.876347°W | |
| Kilcomin Monastery | early monastic site, founded before 669 | Cell-cumain; Disert Chuimin |
52°58′07″N 7°57′46″W / 52.968569°N 7.962664°W | |
| Kilcormac Friary | Carmelite Friars founded 1406 by Odo (Hugh), son of Nellan Mulloy, buried here; dissolved before 1579?; granted to George Cowley 1579; granted to Robert Leicester, probably after 1599 |
St Mary ____________________ Cell-chormaic; Kil-carmic; Kil-marmick; Frankford |
53°10′38″N 7°43′35″W / 53.177279°N 7.726312°W | |
| Killagally Monastery ≈ | early monastic site | Kilalga? (County Meath) | ||
| Killeigh Priory += | early monastic site abbey founded before 549 by St Sinchell, son of Cenandan; Augustinian Canons Regular dependent on Durrow; priory founded after 1144?; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian probably adopted before 1148 or after 1163; dissolved c.1569; granted to John Lee 1576; temporal possessions granted to Gerald, Earl of Kildare 1578; church became parochial; remains incorporated into C.I. parish church |
The Holy Cross[notes 8] St Mary (15th century) |
53°12′56″N 7°27′15″W / 53.215439°N 7.454299°W | |
| Killeigh Priory (nuns) # | Augustinian Canonesses — Arroasian? founded after 1195?; dissolved c.1569? |
53°12′45″N 7°27′05″W / 53.212381°N 7.451327°W | ||
| Killeigh Friary | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1293? (before 1303) by Edward I; dissolved c.1598, buildings destroyed c.1598; granted to John Allee, friars apparently remained in the area Observant Franciscan Friars adopted 1632 |
53°12′49″N 7°27′11″W / 53.213537°N 7.453140°W | ||
| Killyon Monastery | early monastic site, nuns founded 5th century (after the death of his father) by St Ciaran for his mother, Liedania |
Cell-liadain; Kil-liadhuin |
53°05′56″N 7°48′52″W / 53.098990°N 7.814488°W | |
| Kilmeelchon Monastery | early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Gussacht mac Milchon; extant 883 |
Cell-mic-milchon | 53°11′24″N 8°00′33″W / 53.189969°N 8.009277°W (approx) | |
| Kinnitty Monastery # | early monastic site, possibly founded by 557; plundered by Norsemen 842; site possibly marked by a High cross within a churchyard |
[1] 53°06′11″N 7°41′51″W / 53.102991°N 7.697404°W (possibly) | ||
| Lemanaghan Monastery | early monastic site, founded c.645-6 by St Managhan?, land granted to the community at Clonmacnoise; extant 893; apparently extant 1205 |
St Managhan ____________________ Leith-manchain; Liath-manchain; Manchan Leith; Tuaim nEirc |
53°17′35″N 7°44′37″W / 53.292955°N 7.743662°W | |
| Lusmagh Monastery | early monastic site, founded 7th century by St Cronan | Herbosus Campus | 53°10′21″N 8°01′13″W / 53.172630°N 8.020384°W (?) | |
| Lusmagh Friary ≈ø | Franciscan Friars — possibly never established | Clochincantualaig? | ||
| Lynally Monastery # | Columban monks founded c.590 by St Colman Elo; burned by Dohmnall mac Murchadh 970 |
Lann-Elo; Lann-Eala; Linnalli; Lynnealla |
53°15′55″N 7°33′21″W / 53.265325°N 7.555737°W | |
| Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1325 by John de Bermingham, Earl of Louth; Observant Franciscan Friars adopted before 1507; dissolved after 1542; granted to Nicholas Herbert before 1587 |
Feoruis; Macfeorais; Mainister-oras; Moitot; Mortoto; Thetmoy; Totmoy; Tuaith-maigh |
53°20′51″N 7°05′02″W / 53.347482°N 7.083776°W | ||
| Roscrea — Mount St Joseph's Abbey * | 
|
Cistercian monks — Trappist — from Mount Melleray Abbey, County Waterford founded 1878; extant |
[2] 52°57′49″N 7°51′21″W / 52.963697°N 7.855793°W | |
| Rahan Monastery | early monastic site, monks founded c.590-635, purportedly by Camelacus, Patrician bishop; great monastery founded by St Carthach (Mochuda); suggested[notes 9] Augustinian Canons Regular briefly, possibly after 1171 — improbable and documentary evidence lacking |
St Carthach ____________________ Raihen; Rath-an; Rath-enin; Rath-yne |
53°16′42″N 7°36′43″W / 53.278453°N 7.611889°W | |
| Rathlihen Monastery | early monastic site, founded before c.540 by St Illand | Rathlipthen; Rathlibthen |
53°11′57″N 7°38′57″W / 53.199240°N 7.649184°W | |
| Reynagh Monastery | early monastic site, nuns | Cell-rignaighe; Kill-rignaighe; suggested Kilrane,[notes 10] County Wexford |
53°09′22″N 7°57′36″W / 53.156009°N 7.960020°W | |
|
early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Ciaran; Augustinian Canons Regular founded before c.1170; dissolved 1568, surrendered 27 December 1568 |
St Ciaran; St Mary ____________________ Saiger Chiarain; Saegir-Querayn; St Keranus de Sayr Kieran de Sayr; Sayrkeran; Syrkyeran |
53°04′13″N 7°47′33″W / 53.070405°N 7.792536°W | |
| Tihelly Monastery # | early monastic site founded 5th century; burned 670; |
Tihilly; Tech-telle; Tech-taille; Tehelly; Templekieran |
53°18′39″N 7°32′39″W / 53.310881°N 7.544072°W |
Map link to lists of monastic houses in Ireland by county[]
 Click on a county to go to the corresponding article |
Notes[]
- ^ Cassell, Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland ii, p.52
- ^ O. S. Muirthuile, Tullamore Official Guide, p.16; E. Hogan, Onomasticon Goedelicum, R.I.A., 1910 p.270
- ^ Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.708
- ^ Harris's Table, Ware-Harris, Antiquities, 1745, p.264 and Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.709
- ^ Conry
- ^ Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p398
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ James Ware, De Hibernia, et Antiquitatibus ejus, 1654 edition
- ^ Journal, Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, xxvi. p.317
- ^ E. Hogan, S. J., Onomasticon Goedelicum, R.I.A., 1910, p.210
References[]
- ^ "High Cross Kinnitty". megalithicireland.com.
- ^ Mount St Joseph Abbey Roscrea
See also[]
Monastic houses of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | |
| Republic of Ireland | |
| |
Categories:
- Lists of monastic houses in the Republic of Ireland
- Religion in County Offaly
- Buildings and structures in County Offaly
- County Offaly-related lists