Monastic Sites
Discover Ireland's ancient monasteries and abbeys that shaped the spiritual landscape
Kilgharvan Monastery
Founded: 7th century
Order: Early Irish
Early monastic site, founded in the 7th century by St Fechin of Fore
Kilglass Monastery
Founded: 5th century
Order: Early Irish
Possible early monastic site, nuns possibly founded 5th century by St Eiche, sister of St Mel and niece of St Patrick
Kilglin Monastery
Founded: 5th century
Order: Early Irish
Early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Patrick; extant 842
Kilgorman Monastery
Founded: 5th century
Order: Early Irish
Early monastic site, founded 5th century?
Kilkeary Monastery
Founded: before 679
Order: Early Irish
Early monastic site, nuns, founded before 679; mistaken for Kilcrea, County Cork
Kilkenny Augustinian Friary
Order: Augustinian Friars
Augustinian Friars “”former canons’ monastery””[notes 125]
Kilkenny Black Abbey +
Order: Dominican Friars
Dominican Friars founded 1225 by William Marshal the younger, Earl of Pembroke (purportedly buried here, but actually at Temple Church, London); dissolved 1540; granted to the Sovereign and commonality of Kilkenny 1543; friars apparently remained…
Kilkenny Cathedral Monastery +
early monastic site, founded before 599/600 by St Canice; episcopal diocesan cathedral 1111; extant
Kilkenny Grey Friary
Order: Franciscan Friars Minor
Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1232-40; dissolved 1540; granted to the Sovereign and the commonality of Kilkenny 1543; friars expelled by John Bale c.1550; returned 1553; expelled 1559, abandoned; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1609; convent refounded 1612; refounded 1640
Kilkenny Hospital
Knights of St Thomas of Acon founded before 1219 by William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, confirmed to the knights and brothers by charter of Gilbert Marshall, Earl of Pembroke
Kilkenny Hospitallers
Order: Knights Hospitaller
Knights Hospitaller “”liberum hospicum”” 1335; “”frankehouse”” 1541