List of monastic houses in County Clare
The smaller establishments such as monastic cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks) and camerae of the military orders of monks (Knights Templars and Knights Hospitallers) are included. The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have, the status or function of an abbey, priory, or preceptory/commandery.
Layout
Communities/provenance: shows the status and communities existing at each establishment, together with such dates as have been established as well as the fate of the establishment after dissolution, and the current status of the site.
Formal name or dedication: shows the formal name of the establishment or the person in whose name the church is dedicated, where known.
Alternative names: some of the establishments have had alternative names over the course of time. In order to assist in text-searching such alternatives in name or spelling have been provided.
Abbreviations and Key
* | current monastic function |
---|---|
+ | current non-monastic ecclesiastic function |
^ | current non-ecclesiastic function |
= | remains incorporated into later structure |
# | no identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains |
~ | exact site of monastic foundation unknown |
ø | possibly no such monastic foundation at location |
¤ | no such monastic foundation |
≈ | identification ambiguous or confused |
Locations with names in italics indicate probable duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented).
NIEA | Scheduled Monument (NI) |
NM | National Monument (ROI) |
C.I. | Church of Ireland |
R.C. | Roman Catholic Church |
Foundation | Image | Communities & Provenance | Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names |
OnLine References & Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
Behagh Friary ø | Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular[notes 1] — probable mistaken identification of Beagh, County Galway | Beagh | ||
Bishop's Island Monastery | Gaelic monks founded 6th century by St Senan; remains of eremite monastery[notes 2] |
[1][2] 52°40′29″N 9°41′28″W / 52.6746647°N 9.6910572°W | ||
Canon Island Abbey | ![]() |
Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1180? by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, probably on site of early monastery (see immediately below); dissolved before 1577; granted to Henry, Earl of Thomond; (NM) |
Inisnegananagh Priory; Inis-negananagh; Inis-negananagad; Insula Canonicorum; Elanagranoch; Elaunaganaghe; Island of Saints |
52°40′45″N 9°02′14″W / 52.6790690°N 9.0370970°W |
Canon Island Monastery | early monastic site, probably founded by St Senan; site possibly later occupied by Augustinian abbey (see immediately above) | |||
Ceannindis Monastery ~ | early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Comgan of Killeshin; possibly located in County Clare |
Cenn-indis; Cenn-innis |
||
Clare Abbey, Clarecastle | ![]() |
Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1189 or 1191 by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick; dissolved c.1543; granted to Henry, Earl of Thomond 1661; (NM) |
The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Clareabbey ____________________ Clareabbey; Clar; Clair; Clayr; Cleara; de Forgio; Forgy |
52°49′44″N 8°58′09″W / 52.829006°N 8.969058°W |
Corcomroe Abbey | ![]() |
suggested early monastic site, Irish monks founded 1175?; Cistercian monks from Inish-lounaght; founded 1194/5, endowed by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick; dissolved after 1600; granted to Richard Harding (date unknown); (NM) |
The Abbey Church of Saint Mary of the Fertile Rock, Corcomroe ____________________ Corcomruad; Corcamer; Corcumro; Petra Fertili Sancta Maria de Petra Fertili |
[3] 53°07′36″N 9°03′14″W / 53.1267663°N 9.0539575°W |
Drim Friary | Franciscan Friars — place of refuge; founded c.1740, expelled from Quin; dissolved 1820 (death of last friar) |
[4][5] | ||
Drumcliff Monastery | ![]() |
Gaelic monks founded 6th century reputedly by St Colmcille |
[6][7] 52°52′04″N 8°59′51″W / 52.867895°N 8.997550°W | |
Dysert O Dea Monastery | ![]() |
Gaelic monks founded before 735 by Tola; remains of 12th-century church on site |
Dissert O'Dea; Disert O'Dea; Dysart O'Dea; Disert-Tola |
[8][9] 52°54′33″N 9°04′06″W / 52.909244°N 9.068390°W |
Ennis Friary * | ![]() |
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 1693; in use as C.I. parish church 1615; Franciscan Friars founded 1841; acquired 1854; Provincial Novitiate House 1877; Novitiate House of the Irish Province 1902; extant |
Nave: St Francis ____________________ Innse-an-laoigh; Inis-an-laoigh; Ennis-an-laoigh; Inis-cluan-ruada; Iniscluanramhfada |
[10][11][12] 52°50′46″N 8°58′54″W / 52.846016°N 8.981610°W |
Ennis Nunnery ø | supposed nuns — erroneous interpretation[notes 3] | |||
Ennis Monastery * | ![]() |
Poor Clares | 52°50′41″N 8°58′45″W / 52.8447748°N 8.9790673°W | |
Enniskerry Monastery | early monastic site, oratory built by St Senan of Scattery | Mutton Island; Inis-caorach |
52°48′47″N 9°30′45″W / 52.813077°N 9.512596°W | |
Ennistimon Monastery | Gaelic monks | Ennistymon; Omos-timain; Inis-tomen; Inis-diomain |
52°56′16″N 9°18′05″W / 52.9377762°N 9.3014717°W | |
Feenish Monastery ~ | Gaelic nuns founded (in the time of St Senan of Scattery) by St Brigid, daughter of Conchraid of the Mactail family? |
Inis-fidhe; Fidh-inis; Cluain-fidhe; Finish |
52°42′21″N 8°58′20″W / 52.7058791°N 8.972311°W (approx) | |
Glencolumbkille Abbey | Columban monks founded by St Columcille; CI Church on site |
Glan Columb-chille; Glann-columcille; Glenn-choluimchille; Glenn-coluimbcille |
53°02′23″N 9°00′57″W / 53.039723°N 9.015871°W | |
Illaunmore Monastery | Gaelic monks founded 7th/8th century; possibly not surviving after the 10th century (historically located in County Galway) |
Oilenmor; Mucinis Monastery? (v. infra) |
52°58′03″N 8°17′28″W / 52.967378°N 8.291208°W | |
Illaunmore, ø Lough Derg |
possible monastic site — order and period unknown | 52°35′57″N 9°46′21″W / 52.5991117°N 9.7725964°W | ||
Inchicronan Priory | early monastic site, possibly founded 6th century by patron, St Cronan of Tuamgraney;[notes 4] Augustinian Canons Regular — from Clareabbey dependent on Clare; founded c.1198? by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, who granted the island to Clare; parish church 1302, built on the site of an earlier monastery; dissolved c.1543; restored and in use by 'friars' in the reign of Elizabeth; church restored for parochial use 1615 by Donogh, Earl of Thomond; granted to Henry, Earl of Thomond 1661; (NM) |
Conventual Priory of St Mary, Ynyscronan (1421); ____________________ Inchycronayne; Inis-cronain; Inchycronayn |
52°55′05″N 8°54′23″W / 52.917942°N 8.906492°W | |
Inishcealtra Monastery, Inishcealtra (Holy Island) |
early monastic site, founded 653 by St Camin, buried here; suggested Augustinian Canons Regular — evidence lacking |
Iniskeltair Abbey; Iniscealtra; Inis Cealtra; Inishcaltra; Iniscaltra; Inis-celtra; Inis-keltair |
[13][14] 52°54′56″N 8°26′54″W / 52.915574°N 8.448333°W | |
Inisanlaoi Monastery | monastic site, unknown order and foundation, actually Ennis Franciscan Friary (supra)[notes 5] | Inis-anlaoige | ||
Inishloe Abbey | Gaelic monks founded by Turlogh, King of Thomond, buried here; on an island in the Shannon Estuary between Scattery and Limerick[notes 6] |
Inis-luaidh; Inis-lua |
52°40′42″N 9°00′59″W / 52.6783099°N 9.016424°W | |
Inish-loinge | nuns, founded 6th century (in the time of St Senan),[notes 7] sited between Scattery and Limerick | Inis-luinge; Inishloinge |
||
Inishmore Monastery | tradition of early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Senan on Deer Island, but Canon Island possibly the site of this foundation of Senan's | Inchmore; Deer Island? |
52°42′50″N 9°02′08″W / 52.7137856°N 9.0354784°W (approx possible site) | |
Inis-tuaischert | early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Senan, possibly County Clare, possibly a small island in the Fergus Estuary | |||
Kilballyowen Monastery | monastic site, unknown foundation and order church built to the south of the site, now in ruins in a cemetery |
52°35′52″N 9°47′11″W / 52.5977497°N 9.7863668°W | ||
Kilcarragh Monastery | hospital or monastery; granted to John King |
[15] 52°59′14″N 9°13′29″W / 52.9871747°N 9.2246103°W | ||
Kilfarboy Monastery ø~ | early monastic site, also given as Kilfobrick, County Meath[notes 8] | Cell-fobric; Kilfobrick |
||
Kilfenora Monastery + | ![]() |
Celtic monks, purportedly founded by St Fachnan (possibly Fachtnan, founder of Ross Carbery) probably continuing after 1111; episcopal diocesan cathedral probably by 1152; extant |
Fenabore; Cell-fionnabrach; Cell-findabrach; Cell-umabrach; Fynabore |
52°54′56″N 9°12′55″W / 52.915630°N 9.2153406°W |
Killadusert Monastery | Gaelic monks founder unknown |
Killadysert; Disert-murthaile; Kildysert |
52°40′12″N 9°06′16″W / 52.6701076°N 9.1045258°W? | |
Killaloe Monastery | Gaelic monks founded 10th century; episcopal diocesan cathedral 1111 monastery probably continuing after 1111 and throughout the 12th century, though evidence lacking; church becoming CI cathedral 1546 |
Laonia; Cell-da-lua; Kildalua |
52°48′23″N 8°26′21″W / 52.8065038°N 8.4392971°W | |
Killinaboy Monastery | ![]() |
early monastic site, founded by Ingrid Baoith | 52°58′13″N 9°05′08″W / 52.9703205°N 9.0854686°W | |
Killone Abbey | ![]() |
Augustinian Nuns founded c.1189 (or monks founded 1120) by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick on site owned by Clare Abbey; dissolved before 1584; ruinous by 1617; now in the grounds of Newhall House, with public access |
The Abbey Church of Saint John the Baptist, Killone ____________________ Killoen; St John de Thomon |
52°48′22″N 9°00′16″W / 52.806224°N 09.004370°W |
Kilnagallech Monastery ~ | Gaelic nuns probable cell |
Kinagalliagh; Kilnagellech; Cell-eochaille; Cell-na-Caillech; Kill-nac-caillech |
52°38′53″N 9°33′54″W / 52.6480629°N 9.5650148°W (approx) | |
Kilshanny Abbey | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1194 by Donal Mor O'Brien, King of Thomond; dissolved before 1581?; granted to Robert Hickman |
probably St Mary and St Augustine ____________________ Kilshonny; Cell-seanaig; Kil-feanye; Kil-teanna; Kyllsenayd |
[3][16][17] 52°58′38″N 9°17′15″W / 52.977224°N 9.2875205°W | |
Mucinis Monastery ~ | early monastic site, plundered by Norsemen 922; possibly County Clare, either at Hog Island or Lough Derg |
Muicinis Riagail; Muck-inis; Hog Island; Pig Island possibly Illaunmore (v. supra) |
52°37′13″N 9°29′58″W / 52.6203375°N 9.499322°W (approx) or 52°55′10″N 8°25′22″W / 52.9194475°N 8.4226618°W (approx) | |
Noughaval Monastery | ![]() |
Gaelic monks founded by St Mogua |
Nuachongbhail | [18][19] 53°00′57″N 9°10′49″W / 53.0157716°N 9.1803219°W |
Oughtmama Monastery | ![]() |
early monastic site, associated with three saints named St. Colmán, one from Ceinéal Laoghaire of Meath, one from Eoghanachta of Munster, and one from Uí Bhriúin of Connacht[20][21] | Ucht Máma | 53°7′0.7″N 9°2′19.65″W / 53.116861°N 9.0387917°W |
Quin Abbey | ![]() |
Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1402; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1433 by Macon MacNamara; dissolved 1541, though friars remained in occupation; granted to Conor O'Brien, Baron Ibracken 1543; confirmed to the Earls of Thomond 1577; granted to Sir Tirlagh O'Brien, of Irishdyman 1583; burnt 1584; repaired and refounded by Roman Catholics 1604; friars expelled 1617; returned c.1626; friars expelled 1637; (NM) |
Quin Friary; Quinchy |
52°49′04″N 8°51′31″W / 52.8176513°N 8.8586712°W |
Rath Monastery # | Gaelic monks founded by St Blathmac; stump of round tower demolished 1838 |
Rathblathmaic | [22] 52°55′03″N 9°05′08″W / 52.9174088°N 9.0855454°W | |
Rossmanagher Monastery | Gaelic nuns | Ros-bendchuir; Ross-Bennchoir |
52°43′14″N 8°47′09″W / 52.7204902°N 8.7858868°W | |
Scattery Island Monastery | ![]() |
Celtic monks founded 6th century by St Senan (or by St Patrick); granted to the Mayor and Corporation of Limerick c.1577 |
Inishscattery | 52°36′51″N 9°31′01″W / 52.6142015°N 9.5168316°W |
Tomfinlough Monastery | Gaelic monks; probably not continuing after the 10th century; site now occupied by remains of Tomfinlough church |
Finlough | 52°46′59″N 8°50′22″W / 52.7830388°N 8.8395309°W | |
Tomgraney Abbey | Gaelic monks | Tomgrany; Tuamgranney; Tuamgraney |
52°53′51″N 8°32′31″W / 52.8975644°N 8.5420418°W | |
Tulla Abbey | Gaelic monks | 52°52′01″N 8°45′24″W / 52.86685°N 8.7565327°W |
Map link to lists of monastic houses in Ireland by county
![]() |
Notes
- ^ Behagh given as County Clare by Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.43 (W. B. Kelly, Dublin, publication p.72), mis-citing Sir James Ware; local tradition of friary at Behagh in County Clare probably originate from Archdall's error
- ^ Bishop's Island remains of monastery, foundation attributed to St Senan — Lord Killanin & M. V. Duignan, Shell Guide to Ireland, 1962, (new edition 1967), p.321 (though not in 1989 edition)
- ^ Ennis nuns — Wars of Turlogh, (E. B. Fitzmaurice & A. G. Little, Materials for History of the Franciscan Province of Ireland pp.80-1) taken to refer to nuns; communications of Canice Mooney, OFM, point out that the word used,'caileach', translates as 'chalice', as opposed to 'cailleach' (nun)
- ^ Inchicronan "ruins of...Augustinian priory...on a site whose history goes back to St Crónán of Tuamgraney" — Lord Killanin & M. V. Duignan, Shell Guide to Ireland, 1962, (new edition 1967), p.184 (p.124 in 1989 edition)
- ^ Inislanlaoi — listed as a separate foundation at Ennis by Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.77
- ^ Inishloe (Inislua) — location given by Mervyn Archdall Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786
- ^ Inish-loinge — "penitentiarius de Inis-Lauidhe" — Acta Sanctorum ... Hiberniae, compiled by John Colgan, 1645, pp.537, 540
- ^ Kilfarboy — given as Kilfobrick — Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.52
References
- ^ Clare People: Saint Senan
- ^ Clare
- ^ a b Abbey, or Corcomroe-Abbey (Barony of Burren)
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Monastic Sites In Ireland - GoIreland
- ^ Drumcliffe
- ^ Dysert O'Dea - The Clare Archaeology Centre
- ^ The Burren: Dysert O'Dea Church
- ^ Friaries In Ireland - GoIreland
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ The Coming of Christianity to Clare and the evolution of the Diocese of Killaloe and Kilfenora
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20071118204209/http://www.clare.ie/members/listing.php?id=17. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Statistical Survey of the County of Clare 1808 - Chapter V.25
- ^ The History and Topography of the County of Clare by James Frost: Chapter 7 - Kilshanny Parish
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20100913073838/http://www.lisdoonvarnakilshanny.com/pages.asp?pageid=75584. Archived from the original on September 13, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Monastic Sites In Ireland - GoIreland
- ^ Saints and Stones: Noughaval Church
- ^ Ó Riain, Pádraig (2011). A Dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin: Four Courts Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-84682-318-3.
- ^ Gwynn, Aubrey; Hadcock, R. Neville (1970). Medieval Religious Houses Ireland. London: Longman. p. 400.
- ^ [5]