Monastic Sites
Discover Ireland's ancient monasteries and abbeys that shaped the spiritual landscape
Inniskeen Monastery
Founded: before 587
Order: Early Irish
Early monastic site, founded before 587; burned 789; plundered 948; possibly not surviving after 10th century; burned 1166
Inver Friary
Order: Franciscan Friars
Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded 1500 by a Scottish nobleman, Phelim O’Neil; dissolved during the reign of Queen Elizabeth? also erroneously given as Inver, County Donegal; granted to James…
Inver Monastery
early monastic site, Gaelic monks founded 6th century by St Náile of Kinawley; in parochial use until 1807
Jerpoint Abbey
Order: Cistercian monks
probably Benedictine monks founded 1158 (1166–70); Cistercian monks — from Baltinglass founded 1180, grant of church confirmed by charter of John, Lord of Ireland, Earl of Morton c.1185; dissolved 1540; church in parochial use by 7 January…
Jerpoint Nunnery
Order: Cistercian nuns
Cistercian(?) nuns foundation unknown adjacent to the monks’ abbey; dissolved 1228, removal ordered by Stephen of Lexington
Kells Abbey
Order: Arroasian
purportedly founded before 514 (in the time of St Macnise); apparently a hermitage by 828 of Ceallach mac Condmaigh, anchorite of Disirt Ceallaigh (possible confusion with same place name in…
Kells Monastery
Founded: c.804
Order: Early Irish
Early monastic site purportedly founded 6th century by St Colmcille — evidence lacking founded by c.804; diocesan cathedral 1152; merged with Meath c.1211; becoming a parochial church secular college, perpetual…
Kells Priory
Order: Augustinian Canons Regular
early monastic site, founded by St Ciaran of Seirkieran; secular college founded 1183 by Geoffrey fitz Robert, confirmed by Felix Ua Duib Sláin, Bishop of Ossory; Augustinian Canons Regular — from Bodmin, Cornwall founded 1193 by Geoffrey fitz…