Monastic Sites
Discover Ireland's ancient monasteries and abbeys that shaped the spiritual landscape
Roscommon Abbey
Founded: 6th century
Order: Arroasian
Early monastic site, founded in the 6th century by St Comman, disciple of St Finnian of Clonard; diocesan cathedral see translated from Elphin 1152; see translated to Elphin c.1168; Augustinian…
Roscommon Blackfriars
Founded: 1253
Order: Dominican
Dominican Friars founded 1253 by Felim O’Conor, King of Connacht, buried here; consecrated 1257 by Thomas O’Conor, Bishop of Elphin; burned 1270; Dominican Annals of Roscommon written up to 1314…
Roscommon Greyfriars
Founded: 1268–69
Order: Franciscan
Franciscan Friars founder unknown; dissolved 1270 when burned; could not be restored as the founder had died
Roscommon Priory
Founded: after 1144
Order: Arroasian
Augustinian nuns — Arroasian founded after 1144; possible double monastery with Roscommon Abbey; dependent on Kilcreevanty after 1223, church confirmed to the nuns of Kilcreevanty by Pope Honorius III c.1223…
Roscrea — Mount St Joseph’s Abbey
Founded: 1878
Order: Cistercian
Cistercian monks — Trappist — from Mount Melleray Abbey, County Waterford founded 1878; extant
Roscrea Friary
Founded: before 1477
Order: Conventual
Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded before 1477; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed c.1490; dissolved c.1579, destroyed by the Protestants, friars fled; granted to the Earl of Thomond c.1568, assigned to William…
Roscrea Monastery
Founded: 7th century
Order: Augustinian
Founded 7th century by St Cronan; Augustinian Canons founded c.1140, canons possibly introduced by St Malachy 1140-8; diocesan cathedral 1152; became parochial apparently c.1195 when diocese united to Killaloe
Rosinver
early monastic site, purportedly founded either by St Maedoc or St Tighernach; coarbs recorded to 1438