Monastic Sites
Discover Ireland's ancient monasteries and abbeys that shaped the spiritual landscape
Donaghmoyne Monastery
Founded: unknown
Order: Early Irish
Early monastic site, founded by St Patrick; plundered by Norsemen 832
Donaghrisk Priory
Founded: 1294
Order: Unknown
Order unknown founded 1294 by a member of the O’Hagan family
Donaghseery Monastery
Founded: 5th century
Order: Early Irish
Early monastic site, founded 5th century (in the time of St Patrick)
Donegal Friary
Order: Observant Franciscan Friars
Observant Franciscan Friars founded 1474 (or 1473) by Aodh Rua (Hugh Rufus) O’Donnell, chief of Tirconnell, and his mother, Nuala O’Connor; plundered and garrisoned by the English 1588; English driven…
Down Priory
Founded: before 1170
Order: Augustinian
Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1170, purportedly by the Danes; dissolved c.1567; leased to Thomas Stewcley 1567; held by Richard Maisterson 1608
Downpatrick Cruciferi Priory
Fratres Cruciferi founded before 1200 by John de Courcy; incorporated into Down Cathedral 1513; dissolved before 1541; granted to Gerald, Earl of Kildare
Downpatrick Friary #
Order: Franciscan Friars
Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded c.1240 (before 1243) by Hugh de Lacy, Earl of Ulster; burnt 1316; granted to Gerald, Earl of Kildare; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1567?; expelled by…
Downpatrick Monastery #
early monastic site, traditionally founded 5th century by St Patrick on the dun or ráth on which the CI cathedral now stands
Downpatrick Observant Friary #
Order: Observant Franciscan Friars
Observant Franciscan Friars founded 1627 in the vicinity of the earlier friary (see immediately above); dissolved 1650s