Monastic Sites
Discover Ireland's ancient monasteries and abbeys that shaped the spiritual landscape
Meelick Friary +
Order: Franciscan Friars Minor
Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1414, mandate to license a Franciscan foundation issued to the Bishop of Clonfert by the Pope; Observant Franciscan Friars refounded 1479; dissolved 1559, suppressed and ruined;…
Mellifont Abbey
Founded: 1142
Order: Cistercian
Cistercian monks founded 1142, site selected by St Malachy, grtanted by Donough O’Carroll, King of Oriel (buried here); church consecrated 1157dissolved 1539, surrendered 23 July 1539 by Abbot Richard Contour;…
Mellifont Nunnery
Order: Cistercian
Cistercian? nuns foundation and status unknown; dissolved c.1228
Mevagh Monastery
early monastic site, Gaelic monks; erenaghs to 1609; remains of church and cross
Midleton Abbey #
Order: Cistercian monks
Cistercian monks — from Monasteranenagh founded 1179/80, purportedly by the FitzGerald family[notes 63] (or the Barry family[notes 64]); transferred from Monasteranenagh 1180; dissolved before 1573 (1543); abbot and convent remained as tenants after…
Molana Abbey
Founded: 6th century
Order: Augustinian
Early monastic site, founded in the 6th century by St Molanfide (Maelanfaid); Augustinian Canons Regular founded after 1140?; dissolved 1541; granted to Sir Walter Raleigh 1587?; passed to others 1588
Molough Priory
Founded: late 5th century
Order: Augustinian
Early monastic site, nuns, abbey? founded late 5th century; Augustinian nuns priory, founded 14th century? by the Butler family; dissolved 1540, surrendered by Prioress Joan Powere, 11 April 1540; granted…
Monaghan Friary
Founded: 1462
Order: Conventual
Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1462 (during the reign of Feidhlimidh Mac Mathgamna (Phelim MacMahon), King of Oriel) on the site of the early monastery (see immediately below); Observant Franciscan…
Monaincha Priory
Founded: 6th century
Order: Augustinian
Early monastic site, Culdees hermits founded 6th century; existing in the time of St Cainnech of Aghaboe; Culdees moved to the chapel of St Colum on the arrival of the…