Clare Island Abbey

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Clare Island Abbey
Mainistir Chliara
Clare Island Abbey NE 1997 09 10.jpg
Abbey viewed from the northeast
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other namesSt. Brigid's Abbey, Mainister-ni-clarch; Cliara; Cleara; Clara; Insula Maris; Oilen-ui-maile
Order Cistercians
Established12th century
Disestablished17th century
Mother house Knockmoy Abbey
Diocese Tuam
Architecture
Statusinactive
Style Cistercian
Site
LocationLecarrow, Clare Island, County Mayo
Coordinates 53°47′36″N9°59′21″W / 53.793229°N 9.989088°W / 53.793229; -9.989088
Public accessyes
Official nameClare Island Abbey
Reference no.97

Clare Island Abbey, officially St. Brigid's Abbey, is a former Cistercian monastery and National Monument located in Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland. [1] [2]

Contents

Location

Clare Island Abbey is located in the centre of the south part of Clare Island, near the post office. [3]

History

Saint Bridget`s Abbey was founded in the 12th/13th century and in 1224 became a cell of Knockmoy Abbey, a Cistercian abbey near Tuam.[ citation needed ]

It was rebuilt c. 1460. It contains numerous tombs of the local ruling family, the Ó Máille (O'Malley) and tradition claims it as the site of the baptism, marriages and burial of Gráinne "Grace" O'Malley (c. 1530 – c. 1603), the famous "pirate queen." She is believed to have been interred at the O'Malley tomb which has a canopy.[ citation needed ]

The abbey was probably dissolved during the late 16th century. Later it was a place of refuge for Carmelite Friars.[ citation needed ]

Building

The abbey is furnished with piscina, sedilia, carved heads and ogee and cusp-headed lancet windows. [4] [5]

Clare Island Abbey contains a series of medieval wall and ceiling paintings. They depict mythical, human and animal figures including dragons, a cockerel, stags, men on foot and on horseback, a harper, birds and trees. Such ornamentation is unusual for a Cistercian foundation. [6]

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References

  1. ↑ Davenport, Fionn (1 January 2010). Ireland. Lonely Planet. ISBN   9781742203508 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Manning, Conleth; Cárthaigh, Críostóir Mac; Whelan, Kevin; Gosling, Paul; Waddell, John (1 January 2005). New Survey of Clare Island: The Abbey. Royal Irish Academy. ISBN   9781904890058 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Duffy, Seán (15 January 2005). Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. ISBN   9781135948245 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ "History - Clare Island".
  5. ↑ "Heritage - Clare Island, Co. Mayo, Ireland".
  6. ↑ "Clare Island – The Abbey – 12th Century". Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
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