List of monastic houses in County Clare
The smaller establishments such as
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
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 |
(see right)
Hog Island?
(approx)
Lough Derg?
(approx.)
Foundation | Image | Communities & Provenance | Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names |
OnLine References & Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
Behagh Friary ø (Irish: Mainistir na Beithí) |
Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular[notes 1] — probable mistaken identification of Beagh, County Galway | Beagh | ||
Bishop's Island Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Oileán an Easpaig) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Oileán na gCanánach) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Chliara) |
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 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 (Irish: Mainistir Chorca Mrua) |
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 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 (Irish: Mainistir an Droma) |
Franciscan Friars — place of refuge; founded c.1740, expelled from Quin; dissolved 1820 (death of last friar) |
[4][5] | ||
Drumcliff Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Dhrom Chléibh) |
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 : Díseart Uí Dheá)
(Irish |
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 * (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 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 * (Irish: Mainistir Inis Caorach) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Inis Díomáin) |
Pre-existing parish church/chapel at the site, built after 1812. Monastery and school founded in 1824 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers. Residence at the site completed by May 1827. Later buildings include a primary school (1931) and nearby secondary school(1970). | 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 (Irish: Mainistir Fhínse) |
52°42′21″N 8°58′20″W / 52.7058791°N 8.972311°W (approx) | |
Glencolumbkille Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Ghleann Cholm Cille) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir an Oileáin Mhóir) |
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 (Irish: Prióireacht Inse Chrónáin) |
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 (Irish: Prióireacht Inis an Lao) |
monastic site, unknown order and foundation, actually Ennis Franciscan Friary (supra)[notes 5] | Inis-anlaoige | ||
Inishloe Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Inis Lua) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Inis Mór) |
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 (Irish: Inis Tuaiscirt) |
early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Senan, possibly County Clare, possibly a small island in the Fergus Estuary | |||
Kilballyowen Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Chill Bhaile Eoghain) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Chill Chathrach) |
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~ (Irish: Cill Fear Buí) |
early monastic site, also given as Kilfobrick, County Meath[notes 8] | Cell-fobric; Kilfobrick |
||
Kilfenora Monastery + (Irish: Cill Fhionnúrach) |
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 (Irish: Cill an Dísirt) |
Gaelic monks founder unknown |
Killadysert; Disert-murthaile; Kildysert |
52°40′12″N 9°06′16″W / 52.6701076°N 9.1045258°W? | |
Killaloe Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Chill Lua) |
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 (Irish: Cill Iníne Baoith) |
early monastic site, founded by Iníon Bhaoith | 52°58′13″N 9°05′08″W / 52.9703205°N 9.0854686°W | ||
Killone Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Chill Eoin) |
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 ~ (Irish: Cill na gCailleach |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Chill Seanaigh |
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 ~ (Irish: Mainistir Mhuicinse) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Nuachabhála) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Ucht Máma) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Chuinche) |
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 # (Irish: Mainistir na Rátha) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Ros mBeannchair) |
Gaelic nuns | Ros-bendchuir; Ross-Bennchoir |
52°43′14″N 8°47′09″W / 52.7204902°N 8.7858868°W | |
Scattery Island Monastery : Mainistir Inis Caorach)
(Irish |
Celtic monks founded 6th century 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 (Irish: Mainistir Thuaim Fhionnlocha) |
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 (Irish: Mainistir Thuaim Gréine) |
Gaelic monks | Tomgrany; Tuamgranney; Tuamgraney |
52°53′51″N 8°32′31″W / 52.8975644°N 8.5420418°W | |
Tulla Abbey (Irish: Mainistir na Tulaí) |
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)
- ^ "Irish Franciscans". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Assoc. For the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead, Ireland. JRRNLS 1888-1916: Quin Parish".
- ^ Monastic Sites In Ireland - GoIreland
- ^ Drumcliffe
- ^ Dysert O'Dea - The Clare Archaeology Centre
- ^ The Burren: Dysert O'Dea Church
- ^ Friaries In Ireland - GoIreland
- ^ "Ennis". Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Irish Fransicans - Ennis". Franciscans.ie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007.
- ^ The Coming of Christianity to Clare and the evolution of the Diocese of Killaloe and Kilfenora
- ^ "Inishcealtra". clare.ie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ 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
- ^ "Kilshanny & St Augustine". Archived from the original on 13 September 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ Monastic Sites In Ireland - GoIreland
- ^ Saints and Stones: Noughaval Church
- ISBN 978-1-84682-318-3.
- ^ Gwynn, Aubrey; Hadcock, R. Neville (1970). Medieval Religious Houses Ireland. London: Longman. p. 400.
- ^ "Rath Church".