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Monastic Sites

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

Monastic Site Mayo

Mayo Nunnery

Founded: 7th century

Order: Early Irish

Nuns founded in the 7th century?

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Monastic Site Galway

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;…

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Monastic Site Mayo

Meelick Monastery

Order: Early Irish

Early monastic site

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Monastic Site Louth

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;…

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Monastic Site Louth

Mellifont Nunnery

Order: Cistercian

Cistercian? nuns foundation and status unknown; dissolved c.1228

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Monastic Site Donegal

Mevagh Monastery

early monastic site, Gaelic monks; erenaghs to 1609; remains of church and cross

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Monastic Site Cork

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…

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Monastic Site Waterford

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

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Monastic Site Tipperary

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…

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Monastic Site Monaghan

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…

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Monastic Site Monaghan

Monaghan Monastery

Order: Early Irish

Early monastic site Franciscan friary built on site 1462

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Monastic Site Tipperary

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…

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