List of monastic houses in County Londonderry

The following is a list of the monastic houses in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

The smaller establishments such as monastic cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks) and camerae of the military orders of monks (Knights Templars and Knights Hospitallers) are included. The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have, the status or function of an abbey, priory, or preceptory/commandery.

Layout

Communities/provenance: shows the status and communities existing at each establishment, together with such dates as have been established as well as the fate of the establishment after dissolution, and the current status of the site.

Formal name or dedication: shows the formal name of the establishment or the person in whose name the church is dedicated, where known.

Alternative names: some of the establishments have had alternative names over the course of time. In order to assist in text-searching such alternatives in name or spelling have been provided.

Abbreviations and Key

The sites listed are ruins or fragmentary remains unless indicated thus:

*	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).

Trusteeship denoted as follows:

NIEA	Scheduled Monument (NI)
NM	National Monument (ROI)
C.I.	Church of Ireland
R.C.	Roman Catholic Church

Aghadowey Monastery

Aghanloo Monastery

Agivey Monastery

Ballymagrorty Monastery

Ballynascreen Monastery

Banagher Monastery

Bovevagh Monastery

Camus Monastery

Church Island Monastery

COLERAINE
(see right)

Cumber Monastery

LONDONDERRY (see right)

Desertmartin Monastery

Desertoghill Monastery

Donnybrewer Monastery (approx.)

Drumachose Abbey

Dunboe Monastery

Duncrun Monastery (approx.)

Dungiven Monastery

Errigal Monastery (approx.)

Faughvale Monastery

Kilcronaghan Monastery

Kilrea Monastery

Lan More Friary

Lissan Monastery (approx.)

Macosquin Abbey

Maghera Monastery

Magilligan Monastery (approx.)

Tamlaght Finlagan Monastery

Tamlaght O'Crilly Monastery

Termoneeny Monastery

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Locations of monastic houses in County Londonderry

Derry Monastery
(poss site)

Derry Monastery
(poss site)

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Locations of monastic houses in County Londonderry

Coleraine Monastery - St Patrick's

Coleraine Monastery - St Carbreus
(approx.)

Coleraine Friary
(approx.)

Coleraine Killowen
(approx.)

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Locations of monastic houses in Coleraine

Foundation	Image	Communities & Provenance	Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names	OnLine References & Location
Aghadowey Monastery #		early monastic site; hospital of St Gowry 1603	Achad-dubthaigh; Achedoffey	[1] [2] 55°01′45″N6°39′27″W / 55.02928°N 6.65749°W / 55.02928; -6.65749 (Aghadowey Monastery)
Aghanloo Monastery		early monastic site; under erenaghs until 16th century	Ath-luga; Ath-longe; Allowa	[3] [4] [5] 55°05′37″N6°56′14″W / 55.093742°N 6.93718°W / 55.093742; -6.93718 (Aghanloo Monastery)
Agivey Monastery		early monastic site; purportedly founded 7th century by St Guar of Aghadowey; Cistercian monks grange of Macosquin	Augheve; Athgeybi	[6] [7] [8] 55°02′22″N6°35′16″W / 55.03937°N 6.58776°W / 55.03937; -6.58776 (Agivey Monastery)
Ballymagrorty Monastery (Derry Diocese)		early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Colmcille	Baile-meg-robhartaig; Baile-megrabhartaigh	55°05′41″N6°39′49″W / 55.0946007°N 6.6635672°W / 55.0946007; -6.6635672 (Ballymagrorty Monastery (Derry Diocese))
Ballynascreen Monastery		early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Colmcille	Scrin-coluim-cille	[9] [10] 54°45′33″N6°52′00″W / 54.75914°N 6.86654°W / 54.75914; -6.86654 (Ballynascreen Monastery)
Banagher Monastery		early monastic site, traditionally founded 11th century? by St Muriedbach O'Heney; under erenaghs until early 17th century	Bennchor; Bangoria	[11] [12] 54°53′19″N6°58′23″W / 54.8884889°N 6.9730569°W / 54.8884889; -6.9730569 (Banagher Monastery)
Bovevagh Monastery		early monastic site, purportedly founded 575 by St Colmcille; oratory burned 1100; under erenaghs until 17th century	Both-mheidhbhe; Both-medhbha	[13] [14] 54°57′33″N6°56′44″W / 54.9591207°N 6.9455911°W / 54.9591207; -6.9455911 (Bovevagh Monastery)
Camus Monastery		early monastic site, founded before c.580; under erenaghs until 16th/17th century	Camas; Cambos; Camsa	[15] [16] 55°06′02″N6°38′06″W / 55.10056°N 6.63513°W / 55.10056; -6.63513 (Camus Monastery)
Church Island Monastery, Lough Beg		early monastic site; plundered by Ulidians 1129; under erenaghs until early 17th century	St Mochonna (possibly St Mochonna of Killyman) ____________________ Inistaiti; InisTeda; Ballyscullion; Inish Taoide	[17] 54°47′24″N6°29′05″W / 54.7899946°N 6.4847811°W / 54.7899946; -6.4847811 (Church Island Monastery)
Coleraine Monastery St Patrick's		early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Patrick; burned 731; suffered destruction 1171 and 1177;	Cuil Raithin; Cul-rathain; Colran; Bannin;	[18] 55°07′55″N6°40′07″W / 55.13202°N 6.66850°W / 55.13202; -6.66850 (Coleraine Monastery - St Patrick's)
Coleraine Monastery St Carbreus		early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Carbreus; dismantled in 1213, Drumtarsey castle erected on site	Cuil Raithin; Abbey of the Bann	[19] [20] 55°08′04″N6°40′43″W / 55.13432°N 6.67859°W / 55.13432; -6.67859 (Coleraine Monastery - St Carbreus (approx.)) (approx)
Coleraine Friary		Dominican Friars founded 1244; Dominican Friars, Regular Observant reformed 1484; dissolved 1543	St Mary	[21] [22] 55°07′49″N6°40′21″W / 55.13040°N 6.67237°W / 55.13040; -6.67237 (Coleraine Friary (approx.)) (approx)
Coleraine Killowen		founded 1248	Drumtarsy; Cill Eoghain - Owen's church; Cill-Eogain - St John's Church	[20] [23] [24] 55°07′42″N6°40′35″W / 55.12834°N 6.67638°W / 55.12834; -6.67638 (Coleraine Killowen (approx.)) (approx)
Cumber Monastery		early monastic site, traditionally founded 5th century by St Patrick; under secular erenaghs until early 17th century	Combior; Camer; Commyr	[25] [26] 54°54′20″N7°09′42″W / 54.905604°N 7.161785°W / 54.905604; -7.161785 (Cumber Monastery)
Derry Monastery ~		early monastic site, traditionally founded c.546 by St Colmcille, but probably c.590 by Fiachra mac Ciárain mac Ainmerech mac Sétna; St Augustine's C.I. Church or St Columb's Church are cited as alternative possible locations of the monastery	Daire-calgach; Doire-Choluim-Chille; Daire Duib-recles; Cella Nigra	[27] 54°59′41″N7°19′26″W / 54.9947366°N 7.3239221°W / 54.9947366; -7.3239221 (St Augustine's Church, poss. site of Derry Monastery) possible or 54°59′34″N7°19′43″W / 54.9929°N 7.3285°W / 54.9929; -7.3285 (Long Tower Church (St Columb's Church, poss. site of Derry Monastery) possible
Derry Abbey		Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian — affiliated to SS Peter & Paul, Armagh; founded c.1233?; reportedly in very poor state of repair by 1411, due to warfare and adversity; churches desecrated and community expelled 1566; under occupation by English troops under Colonel Edward Randolph; restored? canons possibly briefly returned; dissolved 1576?; reoccupied by the English; Augustinian Friars refounded c.1643	Cella Nigra
Derry Priory		Cistercian nuns founded 1218; dissolved 1512
Derry Franciscan Priory	purported foundation of Franciscan Friars; (in 1609 the commissioners erroneously took the ruins of the Blackfriars house (see immediately below) to be Franciscan)
Derry — St Dominic's Priory		spurious accounts of earlier Dominican foundation; Dominican Friars founded 1274; dissolved 1576; briefly restored?	St Dominic
Desertmartin Monastery		early monastic site, apparently founded by a member of the O'Lynn family (suggested by the name Mainister O'Fhloinn); erenaghs until 16th century	Mainister O'Fhloinn; Moneysterlin	[28] [29] [30] 54°46′12″N6°40′15″W / 54.76996°N 6.67091°W / 54.76996; -6.67091 (Desertmartin Monastery)
Desertoghill Monastery		early monastic site, purportedly founded by St Colmcille; erenaghs until 16th century	Disert-ui-tuathghaill; Desert-O'Tuohill	[31] [32] [33] 54°58′23″N6°40′18″W / 54.97308°N 6.67169°W / 54.97308; -6.67169 (Desertoghill Monastery)
Donnybrewer Monastery		early monastic site	Domnach-dala; Domnach-dola	55°02′46″N7°13′44″W / 55.0461037°N 7.2287786°W / 55.0461037; -7.2287786 (Donnybrewer Monastery (approx.)) (approx)
Drumachose Abbey		early monastic site, patronised 6th century by St Cainnech	Druimcoos; Dirumcoos; Dronagh; Drungrosa; Roa	[34] [35] [36] 55°03′03″N6°54′59″W / 55.05086°N 6.91641°W / 55.05086; -6.91641 (Drumachose Abbey)
Dunboe Monastery		early monastic site, founded by St Adamnan; erenaghs until 16th century	Dun-bo; ~co Dun-mbó i n-Dal riatai; Duna-uó, a tempull; Durrbo, par. ecclesie de	[37] [38] [39] [40] 55°09′36″N6°48′40″W / 55.160055°N 6.811075°W / 55.160055; -6.811075 (Dunboe Monastery)
Duncrun Monastery		early monastic site, founded by St Patrick	Dun-cruithne	55°08′48″N6°56′01″W / 55.1466853°N 6.9335211°W / 55.1466853; -6.9335211 (Duncrun Monastery (approx.)) (approx)
Dungiven Monastery		early monastic site, founded 7th century, by St Naechtain?	Dun-geimin; Dun-giobhin; Dun-gevin	[41] 54°55′02″N6°55′18″W / 54.917333°N 6.9216549°W / 54.917333; -6.9216549 (Dungiven Monastery)
Dungiven Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian? founded after 1140? (after 1138?), purportedly by the O'Cahan family; dissolved before 1603; round tower incorporated into church, but collapsed c.1784	St Mary
Errigal Monastery		early monastic site, purportedly founded 6th century by St Colmcille; destroyed by Norsemen 9th century; erenaghs until 16th/17th century	Airecal-Adamnan; Arragel; Temple Erigall; Airecuil, Cainnech	[42] [43] [44] 54°58′32″N6°44′03″W / 54.97550°N 6.73408°W / 54.97550; -6.73408 (Errigal Monastery (approx.)) (approx)
Faughanvale Monastery		early monastic site, erenaghs until 16th century	St Canice (St Conici) ____________________ Nuachongbail; Fochwayll; Killeitra; Tircaerthian	[45] [46] [4] 55°01′57″N7°05′42″W / 55.032436°N 7.094947°W / 55.032436; -7.094947 (Faughvale Monastery)
Kilcronaghan Monastery		early monastic site, patronised by St Cruithnechan; erenaghs until early 17th century	Cell-cruithneachain	[47] [48] 54°47′40″N6°44′00″W / 54.79438°N 6.73333°W / 54.79438; -6.73333 (Kilcronaghan Monastery)
Killelagh Monastery	erroneously given as County Derry in Gwynn & Hadcock index — actually County Donegal
Kilrea Monastery		early monastic site; erenagh land until 1609	Cell-reagh	[49] 54°56′00″N6°34′42″W / 54.93341°N 6.57827°W / 54.93341; -6.57827 (Kilrea Monastery)
Lan More Friary ~		Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular foundation unknown; dissolution unknown; possibly County Londonderry or County Antrim	Landmore?	55°02′05″N6°36′34″W / 55.0347919°N 6.6093536°W / 55.0347919; -6.6093536 (Lan More Friary)
Lissan Monastery		early monastic site, founded before 744	Lessan; ~Lessain episcopi; ~Lesan i Sliabh Callann,ó; ~o Lesan i Sliabh Callan	[50] 54°41′07″N6°46′05″W / 54.685226°N 6.7681474°W / 54.685226; -6.7681474 (Lissan Monastery (approx.)) (approx)
Macosquin Abbey +		Cistercian monks — from Morimond, France founded 1218; dissolved before 1600; granted to the London Companies (Merchant Taylors) authorities for the plantation of Derry; house named 'Glebe House' built on site of claustral buildings c.1770; scant remains of monastic church incorporated into St Mary's C.I. parish church, built on site	Clarus Fons; Magoscain; Moycoscain	[51] 55°05′59″N6°42′26″W / 55.0997568°N 6.7070842°W / 55.0997568; -6.7070842 (Macosquin Abbey)
Maghera Monastery +		early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Lurach; plundeded by the Norsemen 832; church burnt 1135; diocesan cathedral see transferred from Ardstraw c.1152; see transferred to Derry 1254	Machaire-ratha-luraig; Rath-Luraig; Rath-lure	[52] [53] 54°50′32″N6°40′24″W / 54.84213°N 6.673466°W / 54.84213; -6.673466 (Maghera Monastery)
Magilligan Monastery		early monastic site, erenagh land until early 17th century	Aird-megiollagain; Ardia; Scrin-i-nArdia; Ballynascreen-ardia; Tamlachta-ard; Tamlaght-ard; The Shrine of St Columb	55°07′44″N6°56′33″W / 55.1289776°N 6.9424186°W / 55.1289776; -6.9424186 (Magilligan Monastery (approx.)) (approx)
Tamlaght Finlagan Monastery		early monastic site, founded 585 by St Fionn-logha; erenaghs until early 17th century; site occupied by remains of a church destroyed 1641	Tamlacht-fionloga; Templefinlagan; Ballykelly	[54] 55°02′26″N6°58′50″W / 55.0404831°N 6.9806735°W / 55.0404831; -6.9806735 (Tamlaght Finlagan Monastery)
Tamlaght O'Crilly Monastery		early monastic site; erenaghs until early 17th century	Ta, lachta-mac-ninaich	[55] [56] 54°53′37″N6°34′59″W / 54.89365°N 6.58304°W / 54.89365; -6.58304 (Tamlaght O'Crilly Monastery)
Termoneeny Monastery		early monastic site; erenaghs until early 17th century	~in Enga; Termon-any Eanegea	[57] [58] 54°50′00″N6°40′02″W / 54.83334°N 6.66735°W / 54.83334; -6.66735 (Termoneeny Monastery)

Map link to lists of monastic houses in Ireland by county

Click on a county to go to the corresponding article

Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone Carlow Cavan Clare Cork Donegal Dublin Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow

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See also

• List of monastic houses in Ireland