Clare Island Abbey

Clare Island Abbey

Mainistir Chliara
Abbey viewed from the northeast
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other names	St. Brigid's Abbey, Mainister-ni-clarch; Cliara; Cleara; Clara; Insula Maris; Oilen-ui-maile
Order	Cistercians
Established	12th century
Disestablished	17th century
Mother house	Knockmoy Abbey
Diocese	Tuam
Architecture
Status	inactive
Style	Cistercian
Site
Location	Lecarrow, Clare Island, County Mayo
Coordinates	53°47′36″N9°59′21″W / 53.793229°N 9.989088°W / 53.793229; -9.989088
Public access	yes
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Clare 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]}

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." ^[4] 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. ^{[5] [6]}

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. ^[7]

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. Meehan, Cary (2004). Sacred Ireland. Somerset: Gothic Image Publications. p. 660. ISBN   0 906362 43 1.
5. "History - Clare Island".
6. "Heritage - Clare Island, Co. Mayo, Ireland".
7. "Clare Island – The Abbey – 12th Century". Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.