Loading AI tools
Numerous Christian monasteries have existed in the territory that is now County Tipperary in Ireland, some founded in the Celtic Christian period and more after the reforms of Saint Malachy. The Reformation in Ireland saw the dissolution of the monasteries, but after the easing of the Penal Laws against Roman Catholicism new ones were opened.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2015) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baptistgrange ~ | Crutched Friars (Augustinian rule) non-conventual grange of St John the Baptist's, Dublin; leased to the Countess of Ormond 1541 |
Athforth; Achadfada; Achfada | ||
| Ardcrony Monastery | early monastic site, under coarbs | Ardcroine | 52°56′05″N 8°09′19″W | |
| Ardfinnan Monastery # | early monastic site, founded late 7th century? by St Finan Lobhar (Finan the Leper); burned by the Normans 1178 Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular |
Ard-finain; Ard-fenan | 52°17′58″N 7°53′42″W | |
| Ardfinnan Preceptory? # | possibly Knights Templar, initially under Templetown; Knights Hospitaller, under Kilsaran founded 1212? (when church confirmed to the Hospitallers) | |||
| Athassel Priory |  |
Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1192 (c.1200) by William de Burgo, confirmed by King John 1205; erroneously attributed as Trinitarian;[notes 1] held in commandam by Edmund Butler, Archbishop of Cashel; dissolved 1541; leased to Dermot Ryan; granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormond and Ossory 1557; (NM) |
Priory of St Edmund, King and Martyr ____________________ Ath-an-tuisil; Ath-iseal; Ath-aysill; Hachassel; Hassel | 52°28′45″N 7°59′00″W |
| Cahir Priory |  |
Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1200–1220 (during the reign of King John) by Galfrid de Camville; dissolved 1540; church parochial and conventual buildings occupied by Sir Thomas Butler by January 1541; priory alienated by William Hutchinson and Edward Walshe 1561; granted to Sir Edmond Butler 1566 |
St Mary ____________________ Caher; Cathair-duine-iascaid; Cahir-Dunesk; Cayrdunheach; Chaier | [1] 52°22′46″N 7°55′43″W |
| Carrick on Suir Priory | Franciscan nuns founded 1385?; dissolved 1542? house purportedly built on site, before 1603 (during the reign of Elizabeth I) by Thomas, 10th Earl of Ormond as principal residence for the earls of Ormond |
Carrick-magriffin Carrig-magriffin; Roche Swiry | 52°20′39″N 7°25′00″W | |
| Carrick on Suir Hospital Priory | Order of St Thomas of Acon founded c.1236 by William de Cantelo, with the consent of his wife Dionisia, confirmed by John de Norragh c.1250; dependent on Acon, London; dwellings leased to James White 1530; leased to Peter Butler, Earl of Ossory 1534 (Earl of Ormond from 1537); dissolved 1536?; granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormond |
Hospital of St John the Evangelist | ||
| Carrick on Suir — Mount St Nicholas Monastery | 52°20′54″N 7°24′02″W | |||
| Carrick on Suir Hospitallers | Knights Hospitaller, frankhouse under the Hospital of Any, recorded 1541 | |||
| Cashel Monastery | early monastic site, foundation unknown; diocesan cathedral built 1101 or 1111 rebuilt 1169-72 by Domnall Mór O'Brien; rebuilt after c.1224 |
Caiseal; Caissel-narig | 52°31′12″N 7°53′26″W | |
| Cashel Priory | Benedictine monks dependent on Ratisbon; founded before 1134 at the instance of Dirmicius, Abbot of Ratisbon; St Cormac's probably the monks' chapel; expelled 1269-72 by David Mac Carwill, Archbishop of Cashel |
St James | ||
| Cashel Dominican Friary |  |
Dominican Friars founded 1243 by David O'Kelly, a Dominican friar of Cork; burned accidentally; rebuilt and co-founded by John Cantwell 1480; partly leased by Prior Edward Brown 1535-6; dissolved 1540; surrendered by Prior Edward Brown 8 April 1540; leased to Peter Kelly and Walter Fleming; granted to Walter Fleming 1543-4; receiver Walter Houthe 1548; (NM) |
St Dominic | [2] 52°31′05″N 7°53′16″W |
| Cashel Franciscan Friary # | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual; founded c.1265 (during the reign of Henry III) by Lord William Hacket; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1538; rented to Edmund Butler, Archbishop of Cashel, December 1538; dissolved 1540; surrendered by Diermit, guardian, 7 April 1540; friars apparently permitted to remain; abandoned due to religious persecution c.1550, a new house being provided for them 1618 (see immediately below); site now occupied by St John the Baptist R.C. parish church |
'Hackett's Abbey' | 52°30′59″N 7°53′04″W | |
| Cashel Franciscan Friary, later site | Observant Franciscan Friars founded 1618 |
|||
| Cashel Hospitallers | Knights Hospitaller frankhouse under the Hospital of Any, recorded 1541 |
|||
| Cluain-conbruin Monastery ~≈? | early monastic site, founded by St Abban | possibly Rathcoun (infra) | ||
| Clonfinglass Monastery | early monastic site, founded by St Abban | Cluain-finndglaisse | 52°27′30″N 8°04′24″W (?) | |
| Clonmel Friary |  |
Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1269 by Otho de Grandison or the Geraldine family (the earls of Desmond), or by the townsmen of Clonmel; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1536; dissolved 1540, surrendered by Robert Travers, guardian, 8 March 1540; granted to the town 1541-2; later granted to James, Earl of Ormond reopened in 1827 on the original site |
[3][4] 52°21′09″N 7°42′01″W | |
| Clonmel White Friary | Carmelite Friars foundation unknown; dissolved c.1541, surrendered by the prior by April 1541; church found to be in parochial use; refounded by c.1737 |
|||
| Clonmel Black Friary | Dominican Friars probably founded shortly before 1641; probably dissolved at the Cromwellian persecution; friars made an unsuccessful bid to return after the Restoration |
|||
| Clonoulty Preceptory | Knights Templar founded before 1200?, founder unknown; dissolved 1308-11; Knights Hospitaller |
Clon-al; Clon-aul; Clonnell | 52°36′16″N 7°57′28″W (approx?) | |
| Colethe Grange ~ | Cistercian monks grange of Holycross, granted by Donal O'Brien |
Cealuatair; Colethr; Cul-etu | ||
| Coninga Monastery ~≈? | early monastic site, founded by St Declan of Ardmore for some of his disciples; possibly located in County Tipperary | possibly Ardfinnan (supra) | ||
| Corbally Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular — from Monaincha founded c.1485?; dissolved before 1585; granted to Sir Lucas Dillon 1585-6 |
SS Mary and Hilary Holy Cross (from c.1485) St Mary (from 1486-7) ____________________ Corbhaile; Monaincha | 52°56′52″N 7°46′25″W | |
| Daire-mor Monastery | early monastic site, founded by mid 7th century | Doire-mor | 52°36′32″N 7°38′39″W | |
| Derrynavlan Monastery | early monastic site, founded before 800 | Daire-edhnigh; Daire-eithne | 52°34′21″N 7°42′28″W | |
| Donaghmore Monastery | early monastic site, founded 6th century (during the time of St Colmcille and Ita) by Farannan, bishop | Domnach-mor-maige-femen | 52°26′44″N 7°43′17″W (approx) | |
| Donaghmore Monastery | early monastic site, probably founded by St Erc of Donaghmore, County Kildare | Killerk | 52°24′47″N 7°43′30″W | |
| Dromineer Monastery ø | purported intended foundation of monks, order unknown, which was never implemented; 12th century ruins | |||
| St. Aibhe's Monastery, Emly # |  |
early monastic site, founded 5th/6th century by St Ailbe; diocesan cathedral 1111 see united to Cashel 1562; secular college founded after 1505 and before 1542 by Bishop Thomas Hurley (dissolved c.1562); site currently occupied by St Ailbe's C.I. parish church |
Imlech-Ibhair; Imblech-iobhair | 52°27′47″N 8°21′06″W |
| Fethard Priory |  |
Augustinian Friars founded 1306, site granted by Walter Mulcote; dissolved 1540; granted to Edmund Butler, Baron of Dunboyne 16 January 1544; ruins regained c.1820 new Augustinian house established in Fethard; nave restored for parochial use 19th century |
Holy Trinity ____________________ Fiodh-ard; Fetherd; Fiard; Fyddert | [5][6] 52°27′58″N 7°41′26″W |
| Fethard Friary ø | listed in 1573 as Dominican Friars;[notes 2] — evidence lacking | |||
| Galbally Friary |  |
Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1471 by O'Brien; plundered 1472; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed c.1536?; officially suppressed 1540; granted to John, brother of the Earl of Desmond 1543-4, friars permitted to remain; dissolved 1570; (NM) |
Gallbhaile-eatharlach; Mowre; Moor Abbey | 52°24′09″N 8°16′41″W |
| Glenkeen Monastery ≈? | early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Patrick (if Glenshaoin) or St Culan (if in the valley of Glean-chaoin) | Glean-chaoin; Glenn-chaoin | 52°46′01″N 8°01′13″W (approx?) | |
| Holy Cross Abbey + |  |
early monastic site, purportedly hermit monks in the woods; Benedictine monks? possibly founded 1169? by Donal (Mor) O'Brien, King of Limerick; Cistercian monks — from Monasteranenagh founded 1180; subject to Furness 1249; subject to Monasteranenagh 1278; subject to Mellifont 1289; erroneously given as Tironensian;[notes 3] dissolved 1540; granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormond during the reign of Queen Mary, confirmed after 1558 by Elizabeth I; granted to Gerald, Earl of Ormond, 1563; monks permitted to remain in the abbey or the vicinity; in use as secular college 1540, probably until accession of Queen Mary 1553; became ruinous; restored for worship 1971-75; (NM) |
Holycross; Monaster-na-croiche-naoimhe; Sancta Crux; Oterlaun; Wochturlawyn; | 52°38′21″N 7°52′05″W |
| Hore Abbey |  |
Cistercian monks — from Mellifont refounded 1272 by David Mac Carwill, Archbishop of Cashel; dissolved 1540, surrendered by Abbot Patrick Stackbold; leased to Sir Henry Radcliffe 1561 |
52°31′07″N 7°53′53″W | |
| Ibracense Monastery ~ | order unknown, founded 1127 or soon after by St Malachy for brethren from Ulster; possibly located in County Tipperary | |||
| Inishlounaght Abbey |  |
early monastic site, founded before 656 by St Pulcherius; Cistercian monks — probably from Mellifont founded 1147-8 (before May 1148); dependent on Monateranenagh from 1151; dissolved 1540; granted to Cormac M'Teigh M'Carthy |
Inis-leamhnachta; Inis-lannaught; Suir; de Surio | 52°20′43″N 7°44′38″W |
| Inishlounaght Nunnery | Cistercian? nuns purported house adjoining the Cistercian monks' abbey (see immediately above); foundation and status unknown; dissolved 1228 by Stephen of Lexington |
|||
| Kilbarron Monastery | "ruins",[notes 4] traditionally monastic — evidence lacking | 52°58′37″N 8°15′45″W | ||
| Kilcash Monastery | early monastic site, founded by St Colman ua hEirc? | Cell-caisi | 52°23′50″N 7°31′24″W | |
| Kilclispeen Monastery | early monastic site; decorated high crosses remain | Cell-clispin; Kilklispeen | 52°24′45″N 7°23′36″W | |
| Kilcommon Priory | Benedictine monks dependent on Glastonbury, Somerset; founded c.1200 by Philip of Worcester; dissolved c.1332?, probably abandoned following Glastonbury's loss of property in Ireland |
SS Philip, James and Armin (Cumin) ____________________ Kil-comin; Kil-cumin | 52°20′52″N 7°55′06″W | |
| Kilcooly Abbey |  |
possibly Benedictine monks founded c.1182, site granted to the coarb of Mag Airb by Donal Mor O'Brien; Cistercian monks — from Jerpoint (re?)founded 1184, confirmed by Henry III; dissolved 1540, surrendered by Abbot Thomas Shortall 8 April 1540; church was found to be in parochial use 11 January 1541; occupier James, Earl of Ormond; (NM) |
St Mary the Virgin and St Benedict; St Mary (confirmation of Henry III) ____________________ Albicamp; de Arvi Campo; Arvicampus Kil-cuile; Kil-coul; Kyllecouill | 52°40′09″N 7°33′29″W |
| Kilkeary Monastery | early monastic site, nuns, founded before 679; mistaken for Kilcrea, County Cork[notes 5] |
Cell-cere | 52°49′58″N 8°07′25″W | |
| Killalie Friary ≈ |
Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular — actually Killeenagalive, infra | |||
| Killeennagallive Friary | Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded before 1461; dissolved 1543, possibly abandoned during persecution; Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded after 1543; dissolved during the reign of Elizabeth I? |
Killin-ndeallubh; Killin-enallagh; Killin-nandealbh; Killalowe; Kyllalie; Templebredon | 52°30′08″N 8°21′11″W (approx) | |
| Kilmore Monastery | early monastic site | Cell-mor-aradtire | 52°48′38″N 8°13′51″W | |
| Lady's Abbey | Carmelite nuns founded after 1314?; dissolved c.1541? |
Mainister-Mhuire; Ardfinnan | ||
| Latteragh Monastery | early monastic site | Leatharach; Leitrioch-odrain; Leitreach-odrain; Lettir-odrain; Lattracha | 52°48′17″N 8°02′07″W | |
| Leamakevoge Monastery | early monastic site, founded by St Mochemoc (Pulcherius); also erroneously given as County Offaly, by confusion with Manchán of Lemanaghan[notes 6] |
Liath-mochoemocc; Liath-mor; Leighmore; Lethmor; Liethmor | 52°40′17″N 7°42′50″W ? | |
| Lemdruim Monastery ~ | early monastic site; also given as Lorum, County Carlow[notes 7] |
|||
| Lorrha Monastery |  |
early monastic site, founded before 558 by St Brendan; refounded before 584 by St Ruadhan; burned by the Norsemen 845; church built on site c.1000, ruins remain |
53°05′29″N 8°07′12″W | |
| Lorrha Priory # | Augustinian Canons Regular founded after 1140?, on the site of the earlier monastery (see immediately above), apparently built to the north of the earlier monastic church; burned 1157 and 1179; transferred [sic] to new site, adjacent (see immediately below); church in parochial use; became ruinous; 19th-century C.I. parish church built adjacent |
St Rogan / St Ruadan ____________________ Lothea; Loghera; Lorrah; Lurchoe; de Fontis Vivi de Lochra; Lothor | 53°05′31″N 8°07′16″W | |
| Lorrha Priory of St Ruadán |  |
Augustinian Canons Regular founded at earlier site (see immediately above) c.1140, dissolved c.1578?; lease granted to John Hogan, former prior, 2 June 1552, who possibly allowed the Canons to remain; Augustinian Friars founded c.1643 |
53°05′31″N 8°07′16″W | |
| Lorrha Friary |  |
Dominican Friars founded 1269 by Walter de Burgo, Earl of Ulster; dissolved 1552; lease granted to John Hogan, former prior of the Augustinian Priory, 2 June 1552 erroneously shown as "Franciscan Abbey (in ruins)" on Ordnance Survey |
St Peter, Martyr | 53°05′28″N 8°07′33″W |
| Lorrha Abbey | suggested Benedictine monks[notes 8] founded by St Deicola? (Deicolus?) |
|||
| Molough Priory | early monastic site, nuns, abbey? founded late 5th century; Augustinian nuns priory, founded 14th century? by the Butler family; dissolved 1540, surrendered by Prioress Joan Powere, 11 April 1540; granted to Robert Butler c.1540; church found to be in parochial use 1541; leased to Sir Henry Ratcliff 1576 |
St Brigid ____________________ Molaca-Brigde; Mainistir-Brigde; Mag-lacha; Moillagh; Mollaghe; Moylagh | 52°16′47″N 7°48′02″W | |
| Monaincha Priory |  |
early monastic site, Culdees hermits founded 6th century; existing in the time of St Cainnech of Aghaboe; Culdees moved to the chapel of St Colum on the arrival of the Augustinians; Augustinian Canons Regular founded after 1140; dissolved c.1485?, transferred to Corbally; Augustinian Friars |
St Hilary; St Mary (from c.1400?) Holy Cross (from 18 April 1485) ____________________ Mona Incha; Inis-locha-cré; Inis-na-mBeo; Loch-cré; Inchinemeo; Cree-stagnum; Inchanames; Kilbar [sic.] | 52°56′47″N 7°44′53″W |
| Nenagh Friary |  |
Franciscan Friars founded 13th century (during the reign of Henry III) by a Kennedy (possibly L. O'Kennedy) or a Butler dissolved before 1587; granted on lease to Robert Collum (Collam) 1587 |
Aonagh-urmumam; Oinach-urmumam; Enagh; Lenaenach; Venath | 52°51′46″N 8°11′48″W |
| Nenagh — Tyone Priory Hospital |  |
Fratres Cruciferi under Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1200 by Theobald Walter, Pincerna of Ireland; burned by O'Kennedy 1342 became secular 1541-2, dependent on St John's, Dublin; dissolved 1551; granted to Oliver Grace 1563 |
St John the Baptist ____________________ Tyone Priory | 52°51′19″N 8°11′03″W |
| Rathcoun Monastery | "Site of monastery",[notes 9] supposed friary[notes 10] | 52°29′56″N 7°55′19″W | ||
| Rathronan Camera | Knights Templar founded 13th century; dissolved 1308; Knights Hospitaller |
52°23′09″N 7°42′02″W ? | ||
| Roscrea Friary |  |
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 Crow |
Ros-cré; Ruiscre | 52°57′09″N 7°47′59″W |
| Roscrea Monastery |  |
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 |
52°57′20″N 7°47′44″W | |
| St Peakaun Monastery | early monastic site, possibly founded before the time of Becan; (re?)founded by St Abban |
Cluain-ard-mobecoc; Kilpeacon; Pekaun | 52°24′32″N 7°59′35″W | |
| Senros Monastery | early monastic site | Sean Ros nr Monaincha | ||
| Shanrahan Monastery | early monastic site, possibly founded before c.637 by St Cataldus | Sean-raithin | 52°16′23″N 8°00′52″W | |
| Templemore Abbey | Knights Templar, stationed here, purportedly occupying the castle | 52°47′50″N 7°50′26″W | ||
| Terryglass Monastery | early monastic site, founded before 549 by St Colum "Mac Cremthainn"; burned 1112 and 1164 |
Tir-da-glas; Tir | 53°03′17″N 8°12′16″W | |
| Thurles Friary | Carmelite Friars founded c.1291-1300 by the Butler family; dissolved 1540, when already ruinous; granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormond and Ossory 1557, friars remaining in the vicinity; listed as a restored convent existing c.1737 |
[7] 52°40′49″N 7°48′32″W | ||
| Thurles Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars probable post-medieval establishment |
|||
| Thurles Preceptory | purported Knights Templar, who occupied the castle, with another fortress ascribed to them traditionally Knights Hospitaller |
|||
| Tipperary Friary |  |
Augustinian Friars founded c.1300?, possibly by Stephen Butler; dissolved 1539, surrendered by Prior Donough O'Cuyrke (O'Quirk) 7 April 1539, by which time ruinous; granted to Dermot Ryan of Tipperary 1541 |
Tiobrain-arann; Tioprat-arann; Tipra-arann; Tiperary | 52°28′20″N 8°09′38″W |
| Toomyvara Priory |  |
early monastic site, purportedly founded 6th or 7th/8th century by St Donan 407; Augustinian Canons Regular priory cell, dependent on Monaincha; founded 1140; dissolved before 1585; granted to Milned Magrath, Archbishop of Cashel, 30 December 1585 |
St Donan; St Mary ____________________ Tuaim-ui-mheadhra; Thomedonyn; Tamdonayn; Theym; Toem; Toome | 52°50′59″N 8°02′07″W |
| Tullamain Monastery | early monastic site; plundered 1026 |
52°28′06″N 7°46′55″W | ||
 |
- cf Louis Augustin Alemand, Monasticum Hibernicum, translated and edited by John Stevens, 1722, p.150
- Ex. Reg. (IV, p.39) Mag. — no other record found
- Monasticon (1846) v. 150;
- Ordnance Survey
- Colgan and Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.72
- Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.402
- Petrie, p.40
- Louis Augustin Alemand, Monasticum Hibernicum, translated and edited by John Stevens, 1722, pp.71-72
- Ordnance Survey
- Ordnance Survey Letters, O'Donovan and others (Royal Irish Academy)
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
