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Irish Abbeys

Discover the abbeys, monasteries, and friaries that shaped Ireland's spiritual and cultural heritage.

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Abbey of St. Mary de Hogges

Mainistir Naomh Muire de Hogges

County Dublin Leinster

Founded: 12th century, before 1157

Abbey of St. Mary at Hogges

Adare Religious Houses

County Limerick Munster

Founded: c. 1230–1464, spanning the foundations of the Trinitarian Abbey, Augustinian Friary, and Franciscan Friary

Adare derives from the Irish Áth Dara, meaning “ford of the oak,” referring to the historic crossing of the River Maigue around which the village developed.

Armagh Monastic Site

County Armagh Ulster

Founded: Traditionally around 445 AD by St. Patrick

Macha’s Height

Athassel Priory

Mainistir Átha Iseal

County Tipperary Munster

Founded: Around 1200 (traditionally dated to the late 12th century; documented by 1205)

The name Athassel is traditionally associated with the Irish Áth Iseal, meaning “low ford,” reflecting the landscape around the site.

Ballintubber Abbey

Mainistir Bhaile an Tobair

County Mayo Connacht

The name Ballintubber derives from the Irish Baile an Tobair, meaning “town of the well.”

Boyle Abbey

Mainistir Bhaile an Mhuilinn

County Roscommon Connacht

Boyle takes its name from the River Boyle and the surrounding locality. The Irish place-name is associated with the area's historic settlement.

Clare Abbey

Mainistir an Chláir

County Clare Munster

The name Clare is associated with the Irish Clár, meaning “plain” or “level ground,” reflecting the landscape around the town and abbey.

Clonard Monastery

County Meath Leinster

Founded: 6th century, traditionally around 520 by St. Finnian

Finnian’s Meadow

Clones Monastic Site

County Monaghan Ulster

Founded: 6th century, traditionally by St. Tigernach

Clonfert Monastery

County Galway Connacht

Founded: Around 563, traditionally by St. Brendan the Navigator

The Irish name Cluain Fearta is commonly translated as “meadow of the graves” or “meadow of the tombs,” reflecting the site’s ancient association with burial and religious life.

Clonmacnoise

Cluain Mhic Nóis

County Offaly Leinster

Founded: 544, traditionally by St. Ciarán

Meadow of the Sons of Nós

Cong Abbey

Mainistir Chonga

County Mayo Connacht

Founded: 12th century, on the site of an earlier monastery associated with St. Feichín

Cong is associated with the Irish Cunga Fheichín, meaning “the narrows of St. Feichín,” a reference to the narrow strip of land between Lough Mask and Lough Corrib.

Corcomroe Abbey

Mainistir Chorca Mruadh

County Clare Munster

Corcomroe Abbey was also known as “St. Mary of the Fertile Rock,” a name reflecting the productive lands of the Burren that helped sustain its monastic community.

Devenish Island

County Fermanagh Ulster

Founded: 6th century, traditionally around 530, by St. Molaise

The Irish name Daimhinis is traditionally interpreted as “ox island,” preserving an ancient description of the island in Lough Erne.

Donegal Abbey

Mainistir Dhún na nGall

County Donegal Ulster

Founded: 1474, by the O’Donnell dynasty

Monastery of the Fort of the Foreigners

Glendalough

Gleann Dá Loch

County Wicklow Leinster

Founded: 6th century, traditionally by St. Kevin

Valley of the Two Lakes

Glenstal Abbey

Mainistir Ghleann Stáil

County Limerick Munster

Founded: 1927, when Benedictine monks established the community

Abbey of Glenstal

Holy Cross Abbey

Mainistir na Croise Naofa

County Tipperary Munster

The name refers to the abbey's association with a relic of the True Cross, upon which Christ was crucified.

Innisfallen Abbey

County Kerry Munster

Founded: Around 640, traditionally attributed to St. Finian

The Irish name Inis Faithlinn means “Faithlinn’s Island,” preserving an ancient personal name associated with this island on Lough Leane.

Jerpoint Abbey

Mainistir Sheireapúin

County Kilkenny Leinster

The origin of the name Jerpoint is uncertain; it is best treated as a historic place-name rather than assigned a speculative meaning.

Kells Monastic Site

County Meath Leinster

Founded: Early 9th century, traditionally around 804 by monks of the Columban community

Traditionally interpreted as “Head Fort” or “Chief Residence”

Kilcooley Abbey

Mainistir Chill Chúile

County Tipperary Munster

The name Kilcooley is derived from the Irish Cill Chúile, traditionally interpreted as “church of the secluded place.” The precise derivation of the name is uncertain.

Kilcrea Friary

Mainistir Chill Chré

County Cork Munster

The name Kilcrea derives from the Irish Cill Chré, meaning “Church of Cré,” preserving the name of a person associated with the place.

Kildare Monastic Site

County Kildare Leinster

Founded: Late 5th century, traditionally by St. Brigid

Church of the Oak

Killeedy Monastery

County Limerick Munster

Founded: 6th century, traditionally in 546 by St. Ita

Church of St. Ita

Kilmallock Dominican Friary

Mainistir Chill Mocheallóg

County Limerick Munster

Monastery of St. Mocheallóg

Lismore Monastery

Mainistir an Leasa Mhóir

County Waterford Munster

Founded: 635, traditionally by St. Carthage (St. Mochuda)

The name Lismore comes from the Irish Lios Mór, meaning “great fort” or “great enclosure,” reflecting an older landscape name associated with the place.

Molana Abbey

Mainistir Mholana

County Waterford Munster

Founded: 6th century (traditional foundation); Augustinian community in the medieval period

The name Molana is associated with the island on which the abbey stands.

Monasterboice

Mainistir Bhuithe

County Louth Leinster

Founded: Late 5th or early 6th century, traditionally by St. Buithe (St. Buite), who died around 521

The Irish name Mainistir Bhuithe means “Monastery of Buithe,” preserving the name of the saint traditionally credited with founding the settlement.

Muckross Friary

Mainistir Mhucrois

County Kerry Munster

Founded: Around 1448

The name Muckross derives from the Irish Mucros, commonly interpreted as “the peninsula of the pigs,” an ancient place-name associated with the landscape around the friary.

Murrisk Friary

Mainistir Mhuire

County Mayo Connacht

Founded: Late 15th century, traditionally around 1456

Monastery of Mary

Nendrum

Mainistir Nendrum

County Down Ulster

Founded: 5th or 6th century, traditionally associated with St. Mochaoi

The name Nendrum derives from the Irish Inis Muine, meaning “island of the shrubbery,” an ancient name associated with the monastic island in Strangford Lough.

Old Mellifont Abbey

An Mhainistir Mhór

County Louth Leinster

Mellifont derives from the Latin Mellifons, meaning “honey fountain,” a name associated with the abbey's original waterworks.

Quin Friary

Mainistir Chuinche

County Clare Munster

Founded: Around 1402; the Franciscans established their community here in 1433

The name Quin derives from the Irish Cuinche, a place-name thought to refer to the arbutus, or strawberry tree, though its precise origin is uncertain.

Scattery Island

County Clare Munster

Founded: Early 6th century, traditionally around 534, by St. Senan

The name Inis Cathaigh is traditionally associated with the legendary sea creature called the Cáthach, which St. Senan was said to have driven from the island.

Skellig Michael

Sceilg Mhichíl

County Kerry Munster

Founded: Probably between the 6th and 8th centuries; traditionally associated with St. Michael from the 8th century onward

The name Sceilg Mhichíl means “Michael’s Rock,” referring to the island’s dedication to the Archangel Michael. The name Skellig is generally understood to derive from an older Irish word for a steep or rocky place.

Sligo Abbey

Mainistir Shligigh

County Sligo Connacht

The name Sligo comes from the Irish Sligeach, traditionally interpreted as “shelly place” or “shelly river,” referring to the River Garavogue and the area’s historic association with shellfish.

St. Thomas’s Abbey

Mainistir Thomáis Mairtíreach

County Dublin Leinster

Founded: 1177, by William FitzAldelm on behalf of King Henry II of England

Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr

Timoleague Friary

Mainistir Thigh Molaige

County Cork Munster

Founded: Around 1240, traditionally associated with the Franciscan order

The name Timoleague derives from the Irish Tigh Molaga, meaning “house of Molaga,” referring to St. Molaga, an early Irish saint associated with the area.

No Irish abbeys found.