Monastic Sites
Discover Ireland's ancient monasteries and abbeys that shaped the spiritual landscape
Dysert O Dea Monastery (Irish: Díseart Uí Dheá)
Gaelic monks founded before 735 by Tola; remains of 12th-century church on site
Eglish Friary
Order: Carmelite Friars
Carmelite friars founded 1393–1398; possibly abandoned during the reign of Elizabeth; possibly Franciscan Friars dissolved 1579
Elphin Cathedral Monastery
Founded: c.450
Order: Arroasian
Early monastic site, traditionally founded c.450 (434 or 435) by St Patrick; diocesan cathedral c.1130; see transferred to Roscommon 1152; see transferred from Roscommon c.1168; Augustinian Canons Regular – Arroasian?…
Elphin Greyfriars
Founded: 5th century
Order: Conventual
Early monastic site, founded in the 5th century by St Patrick, tradition that Ono, son of Oengus gifted his house to St Patrick; Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded before 1453,…
Elphin Greyfriars, later site
Founded: 1632
Order: Franciscan
Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1632
Emlaghfad Monastery
Founded: 6th century
Order: Early Irish
Early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Colmcille for Enna, son of Nuadhain
Ennis Friary * (Irish: Mainistir na hInse)
Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1240-7 (before 1242? or c.1284) by Donchad Cairbreach O’Brien (Donatus Carbrac O’Brien), King of Thomond; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1536-40 (1550); dissolved; granted to the Earl of Thomond 1578; granted to William Dongan Esq.; dissolved on the death of the last friar 1617; friars returned 1628; expelled 1651; friars returned c.1660; expelled […]