List of monastic houses in County Antrim

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

The sites listed are ruins or fragmentary remains unless indicated thus:

*	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).

Trusteeship denoted as follows:

NIEA	Scheduled Monument (NI)
NM	National Monument (ROI)
C.I.	Church of Ireland
R.C.	Roman Catholic Church

Aghnakilla Monastery (approx.)

Antrim Monastery

Ardclinis Friary

Armoy Monastery

Ballyprior Priory

Bonamargy Friary

Carrickfergus Friary

Church Island Abbey, Lough Beg

Connor Monastery Cathedral

Cranfield Monastery

Culfeightrin Monastery

Drumeeny Monastery

Druim La Croix Abbey

Drumtullagh Monastery
(approx.)

Dundesert monastic site

Duseverick monastic site
(approx.)

Glenarm Friary
(site)

Glenavy Monastery

Glynn monastic site
(approx.)

Inispollan monastic site
(approx.)

Inver Friary (approx.)

Kells Abbey
(approx.)

Kilroot Monastery
(approx.)

Lambeg Friary

Layd Friary

Magheramorne Monastery

Massereene Friary(approx.)

Muckamore Priory

Portglenone Abbey

Portmore Monastery

Rams Island Monastery

Rashee Monastery
(approx.)

Rath-easpuic-innic Monastery
(approx.)

Rathlin Monastery

Skerry Monastery

Woodburn Abbey

Locations of monastic houses in County Antrim

Foundation	Image	Communities & Provenance	Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names	Online References & Location
Aghnakilla Monastery ø		supposed early monastery dissolved before 11th century	Achad-cinn; Achad-na-cille; Aughnakeely	[1][2] 54°54′34″N 6°23′41″W (approx)
Antrim Monastery		Gaelic monks possibly founded by St Comgall of Bangor; plundered 824; plundered 1018; destroyed 1147	Oen-truib; Aen-truib; Aentreb; Aontruibh; Eantrobh; Oentrebh	[3] 54°43′26″N 6°12′32″W
Ardclinis Friary ø		tradition of house of Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular — evidence lacking		[4] 55°03′23″N 6°00′40″W
Armoy Monastery ø		supposed early monastery, founded by St Olcan; dissolved before 11th century	Airthir-maige; Domnach-; Ethirmoy	[5][6] 55°08′05″N 6°18′38″W
Ballycastle Friary ≈		building called 'abbey', apparently built 1612 by Randal Mac Donnell, Earl of Antrim; standing until the Reformation; probably Bonamargy Friary (v. infra)
Ballyprior Priory		Premonstratensian Canons — from Woodburn (community founded at Woodburn before 1326); transferred here 1542-3; dissolved after 1565	Magee Island Priory	[7][8] 54°50′05″N 5°44′25″W
Bonamargy Friary, Ballycastle		Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded c.1500 (c.1475) by Rory MacQuillan, Lord of Reute (or Mac Donell); dissolved 1584; burned 1589; granted to the descendants of the founder Franciscan Friars, First Order Regular repaired & re-occupied at the petition of Father Conor Mac a'Bhaird, as a rest centre for missionaries 1626–1642, restored 1931; (NIEA)	Bunanmargaigh	[9] 55°12′07″N 6°13′52″W
Carrickfergus Abbey		Premonstratensian Canons daughter house of Dryburgh; priory founded before c.1183; raised to abbey status 1212; dissolved after 1320-6; succeeded by Woodburn (v. infra)
Carrickfergus Friary #		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1232–48 by Hugh Lacy, Earl of Ulster; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1497; dissolved 1540; restored by Queen Mary 1557; friars expelled 1560; granted to Sir Edmund Fitzgerald, who assigned it to Sir Arthur Chichester, who built a castle on site 1610; used as a munitions store, rebuilt as Joymount House 1618; new house built by friars 1626	Carrac-fergusa; Cragfargas; Gracfergos; Grafergosensis	54°42′56″N 5°48′19″W
Church Island Monastery, Lough Beg				54°47′24″N 6°29′05″W
Church Island Abbey, Lough Beg
Clondrumalis Abbey ~≈?		Premonstratensian Canons, possibly located in County Antrim, possibly Woodburn	Woodburn?
Cluain Monastery ø+		supposed early monastery founded by St Oclan; dissolved before 11th century; C.I. parish church built on site	Kilcluain; Cell-chluaine	[10]
Connor Monastery		church probably founded early 6th century by Mac Nissi (St Macnisse) (Oengus or Coemahan Breac); episcopal diocesan cathedral; diocese united with Down 1453	Coinnere; Condere; Coinnee	[11] 54°48′26″N 6°12′45″W
Cranfield Monastery		early monastic site, patron St Eoghan; by tradition the burial place of St Olcan	Maigi Cremc; Cremh-caille; Ecclesiaa de Crewill	[12][13][14] 54°42′15″N 6°21′49″W
Culfeightrin Monastery ø		supposed early monastery founded 5th century by St Patrick; dissolved before 11th century	Culechtrann; Kilfeutre; Magherintemple	[15][16] 55°11′32″N 6°12′44″W
Drumeeny Monastery ø		supposed early monastery early monastic site, monks; founded 5th century by St Patrick, who left bishop Enan in charge; dissolved before 11th century	Druim-findich; Druim-indeich; Druim Findich, Enán in; inDruim [Fh]indich, Enán; Ecclesia de Drum-Indich; Killeena Gobbin's Heir Castle	[17][18][19][20] 55°10′59″N 6°13′19″W
Druim La Croix Abbey		Premonstratensian Canons daughter house of Dryburgh; founded before c.1250; dissolved after 1320-6; succeeded by Woodburn (v. infra)	Druim La Croix; White Abbey	[21] 54°40′05″N 5°54′30″W
Drumtullagh Monastery		grange founded 5th century by St Patrick	Telagh-Ceneoil-Oingusa; Tulach	[22][23] 55°09′31″N 6°23′35″W (approx)
Dundesert Monastery		early monastic site, monks; coptic tradition?	Disert Ilidh? Disert Uilaigh?	[24][25][26] 54°37′33″N 6°12′13″W
Dunseverick Monastery		early monastic site, monks founded 5th century by St Patrick; first taken by Norsemen 871; destroyed 926	Dun-sebuirgi; Dun-sobairche	55°14′14″N 6°26′30″W (approx)
Erdamh Monastery ~		early monastic site, suggested to be County Antrim[notes 1]
Glenarm Friary		Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded 1465 by Robert Bissett, cousin of Robert Bissett, Provincial of the Third Order in Ireland; dissolved during the reign of Queen Elizabeth?; granted to Alexander MacDonnell, ancestor to the Earl of Antrim; site now occupied by St. Patrick's C.I. parish church	Gleann-arm	[27][28] 54°58′05″N 5°57′16″W
Glenavy Monastery		early monastic site founded by St Patrick; patron St Aidan, son of Colga; by tradition the burial place of the three daughters of St Comgall founder of Bangor Monastery	Laathrach Patraic Lennewy, Ecclesia de, cum capella Lettir-phadruic Gleann Abhaich Lann Abhaigh	[29][30][31] 54°35′39″N 6°12′57″W
Glynn Monastery		early monastic site monks; church founded 5th century by St Patrick	Glinn Glenn-Fineachta; Glenn-Indechta	[32] 54°49′21″N 5°49′11″W (approx)
Inispollan Monastery		early monastic site, monks in existence 5th century, in the time of St Patrick	Inis-pollen	55°07′15″N 6°04′15″W (approx)
Inver Friary		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 V. Claneboys		54°50′51″N 5°50′24″W (approx)
Kells Abbey		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 County Galway); Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian? founded after 1140; destroyed 1316 by Edward Bruce; rebuilt early 15th century?; dissolved 1 February 1542, surrendered to the commissioners of Henry VIII; extant remains on site of textile factory	St Mary; The Augustinian monastery of Saint John the Baptist (1415) ____________________ Disert Abbey; de Diserto fonte-Conneri; Ceneles	54°48′35″N 6°13′14″W (approx)
Kilboedain Monastery ~		early monastic site, monks church founded by St Boedan, abbot	Cell-baedain; Cell-buadain; Kilscoba; possibly Ballywodan in Ardquin, or Ballibodan; Eiloseoba
Kilroot Monastery		early monastic site, founded in or after 412 by St Colman who was sent by St Ailbe of Emly	Cell-ruaid; Cell-ruad	54°43′46″N 5°45′42″W (approx)
Lambeg Friary		Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded c.1500 by Phelim O'Neil (or M'Donnell); dissolved before 1572, probably destroyed by O'Neil to prevent use as a fort by the English	Lambegg Friary; Limbeg Friary	[33] 54°31′55″N 6°01′01″W
Layd Friary ø		tradition of church now ruined belonging to Franciscan Friars purportedly founded by the sept of McFall (Macfaull) evidence lacking; also suggested as nuns or Dominican Friars	Lead; Lede; Port Obe	[34] 55°05′31″N 6°03′00″W
Linally Monastery	erroneous reference to Lynally, County Offaly
Linn Monastery		early monastic site, nuns
Magheramorne Monastery		early monastic site, monks founded 5th century by St Patrick	Domnach-mor-maige-damoerna	54°48′49″N 5°46′03″W
Massereene Friary		Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded 1500 by Phelim O'Neil; dissolved during the reign of Queen Elizabeth?; granted to Sir Arthur Chichester, Baron of Belfast 1621	Mas-a-rioghna; Masraona; Masseryne; Masevin	[35] 54°42′30″N 6°13′43″W (approx)
Muckamore Monastery #		Gaelic monks founded 585? (550) By St Colman Elo	Mag-comair; Moccumur; Mocmur; Mucimore; Muckmore; Mugcomuir	[36] 54°42′05″N 6°11′20″W
Muckamore Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular — Victorine founded before 1185; dissolved 1540-1; granted to the Longford family 1639; thatched house built on site 17th century replaced by house built and landscaped gardens before 1833, extant, without public access
Portglenone Abbey Church *		Cistercian monks, O.C.S.O. founded 1948 from Baltinglass Abbey, Co Waterford; extant	Abbey of Our Lady of Bethlehem, Portglenone;	[37] 54°52′13″N 6°28′31″W
Portmore Monastery Ballinderry		early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Lua; St Lua known in Scotland as St Moluag	Laloo; Lann Lua; La Lu	[38][39][40] 54°33′01″N 6°16′29″W
Portmuck 'Abbey'		Cistercian monks apparently a grange of Inch
Rams Island Monastery		early monastic site, monks founded before 1056? by Gormgal?	Inis-darcairgrenn in Loch-n-Echach; Lann-Abhaid; Inisgatden	[41] 54°35′06″N 6°18′20″W
Rashee Monastery		early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Patrick	Raith-sithe; Rath-sithe	[42][43] 54°46′20″N 6°01′28″W (approx)
Rath-easpuic-innic Monastery		early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Patrick	Raith-Epscuip-Fhindich; Capella de Corcrib; Corgrippe; Gortgrib	[44][45][46] 54°35′13″N 5°50′22″W (approx)
Rathlin Monastery		attempted foundation c.546 by St Comgal of Bangor thwarted when driven away by armed men; church of Rechrann (identified as Rathlin[notes 2]) founded 635 by Segene, Abbot of Iona; burned by Norsemen 795; Reachru (identified as Rathlin[notes 3]) plundered 1038; possession of the island gained by Earl of Essex, Lord Deputy, 1558	Reachrain; Raghera; Rachlainn; Rachlin; Rachlin Island; Raghlin	[47][48] 55°17′36″N 6°11′52″W
Rathmore Monastery		suggested to be Ratheaspuicinnic,[notes 4] an early fortress[notes 5]
Serade Kaill and Bedamegcan Friary ~		Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded 1445, Archdeacon of Connor appointed to license the building of a monastery by Eugenius IV; dissolved ?	Bademeghcadab Straid Friary?
Skerry Monastery		founded by St. Patrick; mentioned by Tírechan c.670 as – ad montem Scirte ad locum petrae.. vestigium pedis; N/E of the old church ruins lies a patch of rock with a depression known as St Patrick's footprint; close by the church is Tubernacool holy well; Slemish mountain lies two miles south-east across the river Braid valley.	Schire Padruic; Shirec Archaille; rock of Skirit; Schirich	[49][50][51][52] 54°54′50″N 6°08′45″W
Templepatrick Preceptory ø		town said to be named for a Knights Hospitaller foundation — evidence lacking	Villa Hugonis de Logan
Woodburn Abbey		Premonstratensian Canons daughter house of Dryburgh, Scotland; founded before 1326 (1242), by John de Courcy, in succession to Carrickfergus and Druim La Croix (v. supra); dissolved 1 March 1542 [sic] (1542–3), surrendered to the commissioners of Henry VIII; canons transferred to Ballyprior; partly demolished after 1558; site now occupied by Carrickfergus Industrial Centre	The Holy Trinity; St Mary; ____________________ Goodborn Priory	[53] 54°42′29″N 5°50′12″W

Map link to lists of monastic houses in Ireland by county

Click on a county to go to the corresponding article

Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone Carlow Cavan Clare Cork Donegal Dublin Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow

Notes

1. Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, however not mentioned by W. Reeves, Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore, 1847
2. Rathlin — identified with Rechrann by J. O'Donovan (identifications from notes in the Annals of the Four Masters, edited by J. O'Donnovan, 1848–51) and W. Reeves, Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore, 1847
3. Rathlin — identified with Reachru by J. O'Donovan (identifications from notes in the Annals of the Four Masters, ed. J. O'Donnovan, 1848–51)
4. Rathmore identified as Ratheaspuicinnic — M. Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786
5. Ratheaspuicinnic — W. Reeves, Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore, 1847, pp.279–81

References

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See also

• List of monastic houses in Ireland