Abbreviations and Key
| * | 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 |
Bishop's Island Monastery
Cannon Island Abbey
Clare Abbey
Corcomroe Abbey
Drumcliff Monastery
Dysert O Dea Monastery
ENNIS
(see right)
(see right)
Enniskerry Monastery
Ennistimon Monastery
Feenish Monastery (approx.)
Glencolumbkille Abbey
Illaunmore Monastery
Illaunmore, poss. monastic site
Inchicronan Priory
Inishcealtra Monastery
Inishloe Abbey
Inishmore Monastery (approx. poss. Loc.)
Kilballyowen Monastery
Kilcarragh Monastery
Kilfenora Monastery
Killadusert Monastery(?)
Killaloe Monastery
Killinaboy Monastery
Killone Abbey
Kilnagellech Monastery (approx)
Kilshanny Abbey
Mucinis Monastery,
Hog Island?
(approx)
Hog Island?
(approx)
Mucinis Monastery,
Lough Derg?
(approx.)
Lough Derg?
(approx.)
Noughaval Monastery
Oughtmama Monastery
Quin Abbey
Rath Monastery
Rossmanagher Monastery
Scattery Island Monastery
Tomfinlough Monastery
Tomgraney Abbey
Tulla Abbey
Locations of monastic houses in County Clare
Ennis Friary
Ennis Monastery
Locations of monastic houses in Ennis
| Foundation | Image | Communities & Provenance | Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names | OnLine References & Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behagh Friaryø (Irish: Mainistir na Beithí) | Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular [notes 1] — probable mistaken identification of Beagh, County Galway | Beagh | ||
| Bishop's Island Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Oileán an Easpaig) | Gaelic monks founded 6th century by St Senan; remains of eremite monastery [notes 2] | [1] [2] 52°40′29″N9°41′28″W / 52.6746647°N 9.6910572°W | ||
| Canon Island Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Oileán na gCanánach) |  | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1180? by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, probably on site of early monastery (see immediately below); dissolved before 1577; granted to Henry, Earl of Thomond; (NM) | Inisnegananagh Priory; Inis-negananagh; Inis-negananagad; Insula Canonicorum; Elanagranoch; Elaunaganaghe; Island of Saints | 52°40′45″N9°02′14″W / 52.6790690°N 9.0370970°W |
| Canon Island Monastery | early monastic site, probably founded by St Senan; site possibly later occupied by Augustinian abbey (see immediately above) | |||
| Ceannindis Monastery ~ | early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Comgan of Killeshin; possibly located in County Clare | Cenn-indis; Cenn-innis | ||
| Clare Abbey, Clarecastle (Irish: Mainistir Chliara) |  | Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1189 or 1191 by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick; dissolved c.1543; granted to Henry, Earl of Thomond 1661; (NM) | The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Clareabbey ____________________ Clareabbey; Clar; Clair; Clayr; Cleara; de Forgio; Forgy | 52°49′44″N8°58′09″W / 52.829006°N 8.969058°W |
| Corcomroe Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Chorca Mrua) |  | suggested early monastic site, Irish monks founded 1175?; Cistercian monks from Inish-lounaght; founded 1194/5, endowed by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick; dissolved after 1600; granted to Richard Harding (date unknown); (NM) | The Abbey Church of Saint Mary of the Fertile Rock, Corcomroe ____________________ Corcomruad; Corcamer; Corcumro; Petra Fertili Sancta Maria de Petra Fertili | [3] 53°07′36″N9°03′14″W / 53.1267663°N 9.0539575°W |
| Drim Friary (Irish: Mainistir an Droma) | Franciscan Friars — place of refuge; founded c.1740, expelled from Quin; dissolved 1820 (death of last friar) | [4] [5] | ||
| Drumcliff Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Dhrom Chléibh) |  | Gaelic monks founded 6th century reputedly by St Colmcille | [6] [7] 52°52′04″N8°59′51″W / 52.867895°N 8.997550°W | |
| Dysert O Dea Monastery (Irish: Díseart Uí Dheá) |  | Gaelic monks founded before 735 by Tola; remains of 12th-century church on site | Dissert O'Dea; Disert O'Dea; Dysart O'Dea; Disert-Tola | [8] [9] 52°54′33″N9°04′06″W / 52.909244°N 9.068390°W |
| Ennis Friary * (Irish: Mainistir na hInse) |  | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1240-7 (before 1242? or c.1284) by Donchad Cairbreach O'Brien (Donatus Carbrac O'Brien), King of Thomond; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1536-40 (1550); dissolved; granted to the Earl of Thomond 1578; granted to William Dongan Esq.; dissolved on the death of the last friar 1617; friars returned 1628; expelled 1651; friars returned c.1660; expelled 1693; in use as C.I. parish church 1615; Franciscan Friars founded 1841; acquired 1854; Provincial Novitiate House 1877; Novitiate House of the Irish Province 1902; extant | Nave: St Francis ____________________ Innse-an-laoigh; Inis-an-laoigh; Ennis-an-laoigh; Inis-cluan-ruada; Iniscluanramhfada | [10] [11] [12] 52°50′46″N8°58′54″W / 52.846016°N 8.981610°W |
| Ennis Nunneryø | supposed nuns — erroneous interpretation [notes 3] | |||
| Ennis Monastery * (Irish: Mainistir Inis Caorach) |  | Poor Clares | 52°50′41″N8°58′45″W / 52.8447748°N 8.9790673°W | |
| Enniskerry Monastery | early monastic site, oratory built by St Senan of Scattery | Mutton Island; Inis-caorach | 52°48′47″N9°30′45″W / 52.813077°N 9.512596°W | |
| Ennistimon Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Inis Díomáin) | Pre-existing parish church/chapel at the site, built after 1812. Monastery and school founded in 1824 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers. Residence at the site completed by May 1827. Later buildings include a primary school (1931) and nearby secondary school(1970). | Ennistymon; Omos-timain; Inis-tomen; Inis-diomain | 52°56′16″N9°18′05″W / 52.9377762°N 9.3014717°W | |
| Feenish Monastery ~ | Gaelic nuns founded (in the time of St Senan of Scattery) by St Brigid, daughter of Conchraid of the Mactail family? | Inis-fidhe; Fidh-inis; Cluain-fidhe; Finish (Irish: Mainistir Fhínse) | 52°42′21″N8°58′20″W / 52.7058791°N 8.972311°W (approx) | |
| Glencolumbkille Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Ghleann Cholm Cille) | Columban monks founded by St Columcille; CI Church on site | Glan Columb-chille; Glann-columcille; Glenn-choluimchille; Glenn-coluimbcille | 53°02′23″N9°00′57″W / 53.039723°N 9.015871°W | |
| Illaunmore Monastery (Irish: Mainistir an Oileáin Mhóir) | Gaelic monks founded 7th/8th century; possibly not surviving after the 10th century (historically located in County Galway) | Oilenmor; Mucinis Monastery? (v. infra) | 52°58′03″N8°17′28″W / 52.967378°N 8.291208°W | |
| Illaunmore, ø Lough Derg | possible monastic site — order and period unknown | 52°35′57″N9°46′21″W / 52.5991117°N 9.7725964°W | ||
| Inchicronan Priory (Irish: Prióireacht Inse Chrónáin) |  | early monastic site, possibly founded 6th century by patron, St Cronan of Tuamgraney; [notes 4] Augustinian Canons Regular — from Clareabbey dependent on Clare; founded c.1198? by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, who granted the island to Clare; parish church 1302, built on the site of an earlier monastery; dissolved c.1543; restored and in use by 'friars' in the reign of Elizabeth; church restored for parochial use 1615 by Donogh, Earl of Thomond; granted to Henry, Earl of Thomond 1661; (NM) | Conventual Priory of St Mary, Ynyscronan (1421); ____________________ Inchycronayne; Inis-cronain; Inchycronayn | 52°55′05″N8°54′23″W / 52.917942°N 8.906492°W |
| Inishcealtra Monastery, Inishcealtra (Holy Island) |  | early monastic site, founded 653 by St Camin, buried here; suggested Augustinian Canons Regular — evidence lacking | Iniskeltair Abbey; Iniscealtra; Inis Cealtra; Inishcaltra; Iniscaltra; Inis-celtra; Inis-keltair | [13] [14] 52°54′56″N8°26′54″W / 52.915574°N 8.448333°W |
| Inisanlaoi Monastery (Irish: Prióireacht Inis an Lao) | monastic site, unknown order and foundation, actually Ennis Franciscan Friary (supra) [notes 5] | Inis-anlaoige | ||
| Inishloe Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Inis Lua) | Gaelic monks founded by Turlogh, King of Thomond, buried here; on an island in the Shannon Estuary between Scattery and Limerick [notes 6] | Inis-luaidh; Inis-lua | 52°40′42″N9°00′59″W / 52.6783099°N 9.016424°W | |
| Inish-loinge | nuns, founded 6th century (in the time of St Senan), [notes 7] sited between Scattery and Limerick | Inis-luinge; Inishloinge | ||
| Inishmore Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Inis Mór) | tradition of early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Senan on Deer Island, but Canon Island possibly the site of this foundation of Senan's | Inchmore; Deer Island? | 52°42′50″N9°02′08″W / 52.7137856°N 9.0354784°W (approx possible site) | |
| Inis-tuaischert (Irish: Inis Tuaiscirt) | early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Senan, possibly County Clare, possibly a small island in the Fergus Estuary | |||
| Kilballyowen Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Chill Bhaile Eoghain) | monastic site, unknown foundation and order church built to the south of the site, now in ruins in a cemetery | 52°35′52″N9°47′11″W / 52.5977497°N 9.7863668°W | ||
| Kilcarragh Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Chill Chathrach) | hospital or monastery; granted to John King | [15] 52°59′14″N9°13′29″W / 52.9871747°N 9.2246103°W | ||
| Kilfarboy Monastery ø~ (Irish: Cill Fear Buí) | early monastic site, also given as Kilfobrick, County Meath [notes 8] | Cell-fobric; Kilfobrick | ||
| Kilfenora Monastery + (Irish: Cill Fhionnúrach) |  | Celtic monks, purportedly founded by St Fachnan (possibly Fachtnan, founder of Ross Carbery) probably continuing after 1111; episcopal diocesan cathedral probably by 1152; extant | Fenabore; Cell-fionnabrach; Cell-findabrach; Cell-umabrach; Fynabore | 52°54′56″N9°12′55″W / 52.915630°N 9.2153406°W |
| Killadusert Monastery (Irish: Cill an Dísirt) | Gaelic monks founder unknown | Killadysert; Disert-murthaile; Kildysert | 52°40′12″N9°06′16″W / 52.6701076°N 9.1045258°W ? | |
| Killaloe Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Chill Lua) | Gaelic monks founded 10th century; episcopal diocesan cathedral 1111 monastery probably continuing after 1111 and throughout the 12th century, though evidence lacking; church becoming CI cathedral 1546 | Laonia; Cell-da-lua; Kildalua | 52°48′23″N8°26′21″W / 52.8065038°N 8.4392971°W | |
| Killinaboy Monastery (Irish: Cill Iníne Baoith) |  | early monastic site, founded by Iníon Bhaoith | 52°58′13″N9°05′08″W / 52.9703205°N 9.0854686°W | |
| Killone Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Chill Eoin) |  | Augustinian Nuns founded c.1189 (or monks founded 1120) by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick on site owned by Clare Abbey; dissolved before 1584; ruinous by 1617; now in the grounds of Newhall House, with public access | The Abbey Church of Saint John the Baptist, Killone ____________________ Killoen; St John de Thomon | 52°48′22″N9°00′16″W / 52.806224°N 09.004370°W |
| Kilnagallech Monastery ~ (Irish: Cill na gCailleach | Gaelic nuns probable cell | Kinagalliagh; Kilnagellech; Cell-eochaille; Cell-na-Caillech; Kill-nac-caillech | 52°38′53″N9°33′54″W / 52.6480629°N 9.5650148°W (approx) | |
| Kilshanny Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Chill Seanaigh | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1194 by Donal Mor O'Brien, King of Thomond; dissolved before 1581?; granted to Robert Hickman | probably St Mary and St Augustine ____________________ Kilshonny; Cell-seanaig; Kil-feanye; Kil-teanna; Kyllsenayd | [3] [16] [17] 52°58′38″N9°17′15″W / 52.977224°N 9.2875205°W | |
| Mucinis Monastery ~ (Irish: Mainistir Mhuicinse) | early monastic site, plundered by Norsemen 922; possibly County Clare, either at Hog Island or Lough Derg | Muicinis Riagail; Muck-inis; Hog Island; Pig Island possibly Illaunmore (v. supra) | 52°37′13″N9°29′58″W / 52.6203375°N 9.499322°W (approx) or 52°55′10″N8°25′22″W / 52.9194475°N 8.4226618°W (approx) | |
| Noughaval Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Nuachabhála) |  | Gaelic monks founded by St Mogua | Nuachongbhail | [18] [19] 53°00′57″N9°10′49″W / 53.0157716°N 9.1803219°W |
| Oughtmama Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Ucht Máma) |  | early monastic site, associated with three saints named St. Colmán, one from Ceinéal Laoghaire of Meath, one from Eoghanachta of Munster, and one from Uí Bhriúin of Connacht [20] [21] | Ucht Máma | 53°7′0.7″N9°2′19.65″W / 53.116861°N 9.0387917°W |
| Quin Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Chuinche) |  | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1402; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1433 by Macon MacNamara; dissolved 1541, though friars remained in occupation; granted to Conor O'Brien, Baron Ibracken 1543; confirmed to the Earls of Thomond 1577; granted to Sir Tirlagh O'Brien, of Irishdyman 1583; burnt 1584; repaired and refounded by Roman Catholics 1604; friars expelled 1617; returned c.1626; friars expelled 1637; (NM) | Quin Friary; Quinchy | 52°49′04″N8°51′31″W / 52.8176513°N 8.8586712°W |
| Rath Monastery # (Irish: Mainistir na Rátha) | Gaelic monks founded by St Blathmac; stump of round tower demolished 1838 | Rathblathmaic | [22] 52°55′03″N9°05′08″W / 52.9174088°N 9.0855454°W | |
| Rossmanagher Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Ros mBeannchair) | Gaelic nuns | Ros-bendchuir; Ross-Bennchoir | 52°43′14″N8°47′09″W / 52.7204902°N 8.7858868°W | |
| Scattery Island Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Inis Caorach) |  | Celtic monks founded 6th century by St Senan (or by St Patrick); granted to the Mayor and Corporation of Limerick c.1577 | Inishscattery | 52°36′51″N9°31′01″W / 52.6142015°N 9.5168316°W |
| Tomfinlough Monastery (Irish: Mainistir Thuaim Fhionnlocha) | Gaelic monks; probably not continuing after the 10th century; site now occupied by remains of Tomfinlough church | Finlough | 52°46′59″N8°50′22″W / 52.7830388°N 8.8395309°W | |
| Tomgraney Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Thuaim Gréine) | Gaelic monks | Tomgrany; Tuamgranney; Tuamgraney | 52°53′51″N8°32′31″W / 52.8975644°N 8.5420418°W | |
| Tulla Abbey (Irish: Mainistir na Tulaí) | Gaelic monks | 52°52′01″N8°45′24″W / 52.86685°N 8.7565327°W | ||
