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Monastic Sites

Discover Ireland's ancient monasteries and abbeys that shaped the spiritual landscape

Monastic Site Donegal

Killybegs Friary

Order: Franciscan Friars

Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded c.1535–1540 by MacSwiny Bannagh; dissolved c.1600; Observant Franciscan Friars place of refuge c.1641; church in C.I. parochial use until 1829

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Monastic Site Donegal

Killybegs Monastery

early monastic site; erenaghs until 1609

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Monastic Site Kildare

Killybegs Preceptory

Order: Knights Hospitaller

Knights Hospitaller founded before 1212, confirmed by Innocent III dissolved before 1400

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Monastic Site Donegal

Killydonnell Friary

Order: Franciscan brothers Dermit Idurnyn

Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded 1471 by Calvagh O’Donnell, on grant of petition to the Pope by Franciscan brothers Dermit Idurnyn and Dermit Magillacsbuig; dissolved c.1603; granted to Captain Basil Brooke

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Monastic Site Offaly

Killyon Monastery

Founded: 5th century

Order: Early Irish

Early monastic site, nuns founded 5th century (after the death of his father) by St Ciaran for his mother, Liedania

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Monastic Site Galway

Kilmacduagh Monastery

Order: Augustinian Canons Regular

early monastic site, founded 6th-7th century by St Colman son of Duagh on land granted by Guaire, King ruined by William Fitz Adelm de Burgo early 13th century; episcopal diocesan cathedral 11th century;…

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Monastic Site Waterford

Kilmacleague Monastery

Founded: 5th century

Order: Early Irish

Early monastic site, founded in the 5th century by St Mac Liag, disciple of St Declan of Ardmore

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Monastic Site Cork

Kilmaclenine Monastery

early monastic site, Gaelic monks, probably founded before 606 by St Colman mac Leinin of Cloyne

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Monastic Site Roscommon

Kilmacowen Monastery

Founded: before mid 6th century

Order: Early Irish

Early monastic site, probably founded before mid 6th century by Diermit, son of Eugenius mac Murchad; granted to Loughkey Abbey c.1239

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Monastic Site Donegal

Kilmacrenan Friary

Order: Franciscan Friars

Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded c.1537 by Manus O’Donnell on an early monastic site (see immediately below); dissolved 1603

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Monastic Site Donegal

Kilmacrenan Monastery

Order: site of Franciscan friary

early monastic site, Gaelic monks possibly continuing after 1111; site of Franciscan friary (see immediately above)

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Monastic Site Dublin

Kilmacud Carmelite Monastery *

Order: Carmelite nuns

Carmelite nuns founded 1881; extant

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