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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.
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.
| * | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardcarn Priory | early monastic site, founded in the 6th century; diocesan cathedral; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian? founded after 1144?; church possibly shared by Canons and nuns (see immediately below); dissolved c.1593?; granted to the provost and fellows of Holy Trinity Dublin |
Ard-carna; Ard-charna | 53°58′02″N 8°12′06″W | |
| Ardcarn Priory | Augustinian nuns — Arroasian? founded after 1144, possibly by St Malachy; dependent on Kilcreevanty from before 1223; church possibly shared by Canons (see immediately above) and nuns; dissolved c.1590?; granted to Terence (Tirlaughe O'Byrne) 1595; |
St Mary | ||
| Ardcarn Friary ¤ | recorded as Franciscan Friars — no monastic house; Friars of Knockvicar owned land in the parish | |||
| Ardsenlis Monastery ~≈ | early monastic site, nuns founded in the 5th century by St Patrick; possibly located in County Roscommon |
Senlis? | ||
| Assylin Monastery | early monastic site, founded probably before 563 by St Colmcille; often mistaken for Inshmacnerin |
Eas-mac-n-Eirc; Eas-ui-fhloinn | 53°58′05″N 8°19′11″W | |
| Athleague Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian probable cell, dependent on Roscommon; founded before 1266; dissolved before 1466, vicarage granted to the prior of Rindown |
Athliag-maenagain; Aghliag | 53°34′14″N 8°15′40″W | |
| Baslick Monastery | early monastic site, probably founded in the 5th century (in the time of St Patrick); plundered by Norsemen 846 |
Baisleac-mor; Basleac | 53°47′09″N 8°25′44″W | |
| Bellaneeny Friary | Camelite Friars dependent on Eglish; founded after c.1437; dissolved c.1567, possibly abandoned by the Carmelites; leased to Edmund O'Fallon of Athlone 1575; Franciscan Friars? possibly in occupation in the 16th century (during the reign of Elizabeth I) |
Baleanany; Bealaneny; Belathnaony | 53°24′26″N 8°09′25″W | |
| Bettyfield Abbey ø | probably a secular chapel | Shankill | 53°50′17″N 8°13′14″W | |
| Boyle Abbey |  |
early monastic site, possibly founded in the 5th century, possibly by St Patrick; sometimes confused with Ath-da-larc, County Meath; Cistercian monks — from Buniffi (community founded from Grelachdinach 16 August 1148 by Abbot Peter O'Mordha) founded 1161; affiliated to Clairvaux 1228; dissolved c.1589; granted to Patrick Dusacke of Gerrardston; (NM) |
Ath-da-Larc; Ath-da-laarcc; Ath-da-laragh; Buell; Buill; Mainister-na-buill | 53°58′26″N 8°17′49″W |
| Boyle Nunnery | nuns, "ruined nunnery"[notes 1] possibly historically located in County Sligo |
|||
| Caldragh Friary |  |
Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded before 1487?; dissolved 1582?; leased to Bryan M'Dermot 1582; granted to Thomas Danby[notes 2] |
Caldrywolagh; Caldra; Ceall-braughe-uallaighe | |
| Caldragh Nunnery | nuns "nunnery in ruins"[notes 3] |
[1] 53°52′43″N 8°14′34″W | ||
| Cam Monastery | early monastic site, nuns | Camma; Camach | 53°27′21″N 8°07′48″W | |
| Cloonard Abbey ø (Tibohine parish) | "Cloonard abbey and church"[notes 4] | 53°48′24″N 8°30′53″W | ||
| Cloonburren Monastery | early monastic site, nuns founded before 577-8 by Cairech Dergen; probably dissolved before 1167 |
Cluain-bronaigh; Clooncagh | 53°18′43″N 8°02′57″W (approx) | |
| Clooncraff Monastery | early monastic site, founded before 752; plundered 815 |
Cluain-crema; Cluain cremtha | 53°51′31″N 8°03′30″W (approx) | |
| Cloonoghil Cell | Augustinian nuns — Arroasian dependent on Kilcreevanty; founded before 1223, confirmed to the nuns of Kilcreevanty c.1223 and 1400; dissolved c.1543? |
St Mary ____________________ Cluain-eochaill; Cluain-ockill | 53°23′33″N 8°05′52″W | |
| Cloonowen Monastery | early monastic site, possibly founded in the 6th century; plundered by the Munster men 1089 |
Cluain-emhain; Cluain-emuin | 53°22′43″N 7°56′06″W (approx) | |
| Clonrahan Friary ~ | Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded after 1485 by Cathal O'Conor Roe (Rufus); dissolved (during the reign of Elizabeth I) |
Cloon-rane; Cloon-sreane; Cloon-rohan | ||
| Cloonshanville Priory, near Frenchpark |
 |
early monastic site, founded in the 5th century? (by the time of St Patrick); Dominican Friars founded 1385 by Mac Dermot Roe (Rufus); priory leased to Hugh boy O'Donnell 1577; lands leased to the mayor of Galway 1578; friary leased to Bryan Mac Dermot 1580; dissolved before 1596; leased to William Taaffe of Sligo 1596; friary later owned by Lord Dillan and rented by a Protestant named Davis |
The Holy Cross ____________________ Cluain-sainmhill; Cluain-senmall; Cluain-maoil | 53°52′03″N 8°23′25″W |
| Cloontuskert Priory | early monastic site, founded in the 6th century by St Faithlinn; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian founded after 1140, probably by an O'Conor - possibly Turlough O'Conor; dissolved 1563?; granted to Fryall O'Farrell |
Cluain-tuaiscirt-na-dina | 53°41′53″N 8°00′48″W | |
| Creeve Monastery | early monastic site, founded in the early 6th century? by St Finnian of Clonard | Craebh-ghrellain; Craebh-mor | 53°52′09″N 8°13′15″W (approx) | |
| Deerane Abbey | Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian — from Roscommon founded before 1156?, site granted by O'Conor; double monastery with nuns' priory (see immediately below) until 1223-4; dissolved c.1578?; Augustinian Friars |
St Mary ____________________ Dhoran; Daren; Deerane; Derreen; Doren; Dorhan | 53°39′42″N 8°08′58″W (approx?) | |
| Deerane Priory | Augustinian nuns — Arroasian double monastery with Canons' abbey (see immediately above) founded after 1144; dependent on Kilcreevanty from before 1223; dissolved after 1223-4 |
53°39′42″N 8°08′58″W (approx?) | ||
| Domnach-mor Monastery ≈~ | early monastic site, possible duplication | |||
| Drum Monastery |  |
early monastic site, founded in the late 5th century? by Diradius (not Diratus of Ferns), brother of St Canoc | Edardruim | 53°23′54″N 8°01′49″W |
| Drumalgagh Priory | Augustinian nuns — Arroasian dependent on Clonard; founded before 1195, confirmed to the nuns of Clonard; dependent on Kilcreevanty from before 1223, confirmed to the nuns of Kilcreevanty c.1223 and 1400; dissolved c.1543?; owned by Earl of Clanricarde 1641 |
St Mary ____________________ Druimeliar; Drumcliff; Dromalga | 53°18′02″N 8°06′06″W (approx) | |
| Drumconnel Monastery ~ | early monastic site, founded in the 5th century (in the time of St Patrick) by St Conal?; also given as located in County Galway |
Druim-conaille | ||
| Drumconaid Abbey | Cistercian monks — from Boyle founded c.1156, transferred from Grellechdinach; dissolved 1158-9: transferred to Buniffi/Boyle c.1158/9 |
Drumcunny; Drum-conaid | 54°02′18″N 8°07′42″W (approx) | |
| Dysart Abbey ø | Cistercian monks land granted to St Mary's Abbey, Dublin by Rory O'Conor not later than 1236; abbey probably never built |
Briole; Bruigheol | ||
| Elphin Cathedral Monastery | early monastic site, traditionally founded c.450 (434 or 435) by St Patrick; diocesan cathedral c.1130; see transferred to Roscommon 1152; see transferred from Roscommon c.1168; Augustinian Canons Regular - Arroasian? founded after 1140; see transferred from Elphin 1244; dissolved before 1442; storm damaged 1957, demolished shortly afterwards; ruins partially restored |
St Mary ____________________ Ailfinn; Ail-find; Oilfinn; Olfin; Emlach-ono | 53°50′43″N 8°11′26″W | |
| Elphin Greyfriars = | early monastic site, founded in the 5th century by St Patrick, tradition that Ono, son of Oengus gifted his house to St Patrick; Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded before 1453, parish church of St Patrick granted to the friars by Cornelius, Bishop of Elphin before 1450, Cornelius was instructed by the Pope to license new friaries 1453; dissolved 1563, friars expelled by the Protestant bishop, who demolished the friary and built a house from the ruins; granted to Terence O'Birne-Termor; erroneously referred to as Dominican in inquisition 1591 |
St Patrick | [2] | |
| Elphin Greyfriars, later site | Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1632 |
[3] | ||
| Emlagh Monastery | early monastic site, founded in the 5th century?, bishop listed in the time of St Patrick | Imblech-each; Imblech-brocadha | 53°44′43″N 8°27′22″W | |
| Fuerty Monastery | early monastic site, founded in the 5th century by St Patrick for deacon Just | Fidard; Fidarte | 53°36′37″N 8°16′07″W | |
| Grange Abbey, Kilbride parish | purported abbey[notes 5] | Kilcrea | 53°43′44″N 8°13′09″W | |
| Grellachdinach Priory ~ | Cistercian monks — from Mellifont founded 1148; dissolved 1155-6, transferred to Drumconaid, Bunfinny and Boyle; possibly located in County Roscommon |
Grellechdinach | ||
| Inchmacnerin Abbey, Church Island, Lough Key |
early monastic site, Patrician monks founded in the 6th century; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian? founded 1140-70?; dissolved before 1596; founded post1140; dissolved 1569?; granted to William Taaffe 1596; (NM) |
St Mary ____________________ Inis-mac-n-erin; Insula-Macnery; Insula-Machum; Inch-vicrinni; Church Island, Lough Key (not Eas-mac-eirc, as given by some, which is Assylin (q.v.)) | 53°59′40″N 8°15′38″W | |
| Inchmean Priory | Benedictine monks — duplication of Inchmean, County Mayo[notes 6] | |||
| Kilbride Abbey ø | "Abbey"[notes 7] possibly connected with Derrane Priory, supra | 53°42′05″N 8°10′30″W | ||
| Kilcanuran Monastery | early monastic site | Cill-ceanuran; Beech Abbey | [4][5] 53°53′36″N 8°07′46″W | |
| Kilconan Abbey ø | "Abbey", founded 1339[notes 8] | |||
| Kilcooley Monastery | early monastic site[notes 9] | Cell-cuile; Cul-silinne; Kilchule | 53°46′07″N 8°12′24″W | |
| Kildallog Monastery ≈~ | early monastic site | Kiltrustan?, (infra) | 53°48′58″N 8°06′13″W (?) | |
| Killaraght Monastery | Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in County Sligo | |||
| Killinmulrooney Cell | Augustinian nuns — Arroasian dependent on Kilcreevanty; founded before 1223, church granted to the nuns of Kilcreevanty by Pope Honorius III c.1223 and by Pope Boniface IX 1400; dissolved 1543? |
St Mary ____________________ Cuilleen | 53°20′38″N 8°08′29″W (approx) | |
| Kilmore Monastery | early monastic site, purportedly founded in the 5th century by St Patrick for Conleng and Ercleng; mistaken by early sources for Kilmore, County Cavan; Augustinian Canons Regular 155 183; Augustinian Friars |
Cella-magna-deathreab; Cell-mor-maige-glaiss; Cell-mor-tir-briuin-na-sina; Moyglass | 53°53′21″N 8°00′31″W | |
| Kilmore Monastery | possible early monastic site separate from above, founded in the 6th century by St Colmcille; burned by the Ui Cremthainn 757 |
Cell-mor-dithrib | 53°53′40″N 8°00′42″W | |
| Kilnamanagh Monastery | early monastic site, founded in the 5th century by St Patrick | Cluain-na-manach | 53°53′40″N 8°23′55″W | |
| Kilronan Abbey | 6th century | |||
| Kiltrustan Monastery ≈~ | early monastic site;[notes 10] possibly Kildallog | Kildallog?, (supra) | ||
| Knockvicar Friary | Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular foundation unknown erroneously referred to as Dominican Friars, purportedly by the Bingham family,[notes 11] however they were not in Ireland at the time;[notes 12] dissolved c.1583-4; granted to Richard Kendlemarch (Kyndelinshe) |
Cnoc-bhicarre; Cnoc-an-bicairi | 54°00′06″N 8°12′03″W | |
| Lissonuffy Cell | Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian dependent on Cong; foundation unknown; dissolved before 1592; granted to Trinity College, Dublin |
Liss-O-nDubhthaig; Lyssenowfe; Lis-duffe; Lys-duffe | 53°44′28″N 7°59′32″W | |
| Loughkey Abbey | early monastic site, founded by 700;[notes 13] Premonstratensian Canons daughter of Prémontré founded after 1217-8 (c.1215) by Clarus MacMailin, archdeacon of Elphin; raised to abbey status c.1235; held in commendam by Rory MacDermot from 1548; granted to Robert Harrison 1594; dissolved after 1600?, monks probably remained in occupation until 1608; (NM) |
The Holy Trinity ____________________ Lough Cé; Trinity Island | 53°59′21″N 8°15′16″W | |
| Monasterevan Monastery ≈~ | purportedly Augustinian Canons Regular or Crutched Friars (if Rindown) | Rindown?; Monastereoin? | ||
| Ogulla Monastery | early monastic site | Oghdeala | 53°46′39″N 8°16′34″W | |
| Oran Monastery | early monastic site, founded in the 5th century by St Patrick | Uaran; Huaran; Cell-garad; Ballydooley | 53°40′26″N 8°20′24″W | |
| Rindown Priory Hospital | Crutched Friars (or less likely Knights Hospitaller) founded before 1216, believed to be by King John for the Cruciferi or for the Knights Hospitallers; plundered 1229; raided by Felim O'Conor 1216; burnt by Aed O'Conor 1270 dissolved before 1569; granted to Christopher Davers 1569; leased to George Goodman 1588 |
St John the Baptist ____________________ Randoon; Rinnduin; Renydwyn; Tea-eon; St John's de Rynndum; Monaster-eoin-baisde; Monaster-evin | 53°32′38″N 8°00′09″W | |
| Rindown Priory ~≈ | Premonstratensian Canons, possible confusion with Monasterevan, supra | Monasterevan? | 53°32′17″N 7°59′36″W | |
| Roscommon Abbey | 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 Canons Regular — Arroasian founded after 1140, possibly with Arroasian reformation 1140-8 by Turlogh O'Conor at the instance of St Malachy; plundered by William de Burgo 1204; burned by the Anglo-Normans 1235 and 1247; plundered by Mac William de Burgo 1260; dissolved before 1578; granted to Sir Nicholas Malbye 1578; granted to Francis Viscount Valentia 1615; Augustinian Friars |
St Mary ____________________ Ros-comain; Ros-chomon; Ros-camain; Ros-coman | 53°37′44″N 8°11′26″W | |
| Roscommon Priory | Augustinian nuns — Arroasian founded after 1144; possible double monastery with Roscommon Abbey (see immediately above); dependent on Kilcreevanty after 1223, church confirmed to the nuns of Kilcreevanty by Pope Honorius III c.1223 and by Pope Boniface IX 1400; dissolved after 1223-4, nuns probably transferred to Termonkeelin after 1223-4 |
St Mary | ||
| Roscommon Blackfriars |  |
Dominican Friars founded 1253 by Felim O'Conor, King of Connacht, buried here; consecrated 1257 by Thomas O'Conor, Bishop of Elphin; burned 1270; dissolved 1573; leased to Thomas le Strange 1573; ruinous by 1612; granted to Francis Viscount Valentia 1615; friars remained in the vicinity, continuing into the 19th century |
The Friary Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Roscommon | [6] 53.624733°N 8.191921°W |
| Roscommon Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars founded 1268–69, founder unknown; dissolved 1270 when burned; could not be restored as the founder had died |
|||
| Templemoyle Abbey | possible early monastic site | Kilnanooan | 53°48′11″N 8°17′06″W | |
| Termonkeelin Priory | Augustinian nuns — Arroasian — possibly from Derrane and Roscommon dependent on Kilcreevanty; founded after 1223-4; dissolved during the reign of Queen Elizabeth? |
Termon-caelaind; Termon-Keelan | 53°46′57″N 8°28′02″W | |
| Tibohine Monastery | early monastic site, founded probably in the late 6th century by St Baithen Mac Cuanach; plundered by the king of Feara-Manach 1201; plundered by Aed Muimnech 1233 |
Tech-Baithin; Teach-Baithin | 53°52′55″N 8°27′05″W (?) | |
| Tisrara Nunnery | "Nunnery"[notes 14] | 53°31′25″N 8°13′31″W (approx) | ||
| Toberelly Friary | Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular cell or chapel, foundation unknown; dissolved during the reign of Queen Elizabeth |
Toberelvy; Tobar-ailbhe? | 53°45′32″N 8°19′38″W | |
| Toomona Friary | Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded in the 15th century?, founded by the O'Conor family; also dubiously given as Dominican Friars dissolved 1585-8; granted to Richard Kyndelinshe (Kendlemarch) 1588 |
Tuaim-mona; Toemonia; Towemona; Tumona | 53°46′11″N 8°17′28″W | |
| Tulsk Priory |  |
Dominican Friars founded 1448 by a (Mac)Dowell or other, land granted by Felim (Fedlimid) mac Fedlimid O'Conor, buried here; dissolved before 1591?; land granted to Terence O'Byrne 1594; friary granted to William Taaffe 1596; repaired by Bingham 1595 |
St Patrick ____________________ Tulsk Abbey; Tuilsce; Tuillsgi; Twilskye | 53°46′42″N 8°15′14″W |
 |
- Ordnance Survey
- Harris's Table, Ware-Harris, Antiquities, 1745
- Ordnance Survey
- Memorial Atlas of Ireland, 1901
- Memorial Atlas of Ireland, 1901 and Ordnance Survey (½ inch)
- duplication by Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, due to error in Louis Augustin Alemand, Monasticum Hibernicum, translated and edited by John Stevens, 1722
- Memorial Atlas of Ireland, 1901 and Ordnance Survey
- Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, pp. 290-1, erroneously attributes references to a church in Annals of Loch Cé, edited by William Maunsell Hennessy, M.R.I.A., Dublin, 1939, as being of an abbey
- Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland, iv, p.2
- Louis Augustin Alemand,Monasticum Hibernicum, edited and translated by John Stevens, 1722; p.227
- J. O'Heyne, O.P., Irish Dominicans (Epil. Chron. ..), (translated by A. Coleman, O.P., 1902), 1706, p. 271
- Conry: Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.614
- Memorial Atlas of Ireland, 1901 and Ordnance Survey (½ inch)
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