Situated beside the River Suir in County Tipperary, Holy Cross Abbey became one of Ireland's most important Cistercian monasteries. Its history is closely associated with a relic of the True Cross, traditionally said to have been given to the abbey by Queen Isabella of Angoulême, widow of King John of England.

The relic drew pilgrims from across Ireland and helped establish Holy Cross as a significant centre of devotion. The abbey flourished during the medieval period before being suppressed during the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century.

The surviving church is notable for its Gothic architecture, intricate stonework, and the tombs of medieval patrons. Restored for worship in the 20th century, Holy Cross remains a place of pilgrimage and prayer, preserving a living connection between Ireland's medieval religious heritage and its present-day faith.