List of monastic houses in County Longford

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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.

Contents

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
øpossibly 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


FoundationImageCommunities & ProvenanceFormal Name or Dedication
& Alternative Names
OnLine References & Location
Abbeyderg Abbey AbbeydergAbbey.JPG Augustinian Canons Regular
founded before 1216 (during the reign of King John) probably by Gormgall O'Quinn;
raised to abbey status after 1487?
dissolved 1540;
restored?, occupied by John O'Ferral, previously abbot, 1548, by assignment of Sir Thomas Cusak;
granted to Nicholas Ailmer, termor
St Peter
____________________
Monaster-darig;
Monaster-deirg;
Monaster-derick
53°38′17″N7°47′15″W / 53.638097°N 7.787483°W / 53.638097; -7.787483 (Abbeyderg Abbey)
Abbeylara Abbey AbbeylaraAbbey.JPG Cistercian monks — from St Mary's, Dublin
founded c.1210 by Sir Richard Tuit;
colonised 1214;
dissolved 1540
Leathragh;
Laragh;
Leathan;
Monaster-Lethratha;
Granard
53°45′52″N7°26′46″W / 53.764559°N 7.446135°W / 53.764559; -7.446135 (Abbeylara Abbey)
Abbeyshrule Abbey AbbeyshruleAbbey.JPG Cistercian monks — from Mellifont
founded 1200 by the O'Ferral family;
affiliation changed to Bective 1228;
dissolved 1569;
suppressed by Queen Elizabeth, 1592; (NM)
Flumen Dei;
Sruthair;
Schrowl
53°34′47″N7°39′29″W / 53.5798036°N 7.6581627°W / 53.5798036; -7.6581627 (Abbeyshrule Abbey)
Ardagh Monastery ArdaghCathedral.JPG early monastic site founded 5th century by St Patrick or St Mel?
diocesan cathedral 1111
Ardachad 53°40′02″N7°41′33″W / 53.6671207°N 7.6925915°W / 53.6671207; -7.6925915 (Ardagh Cathedral)
Ballynasaggart FriaryFranciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
founded after 1510? by Geoffrey O'Ferrall;
dissolved 1540;
Observant Franciscan Friars
refounded 1634;
dissolved 1811
St John the Baptist Friary (from 1634)
____________________
Ballinasaggart;
Baile-na-sagart;
Baile-ne-saggard
[1]

53°41′29″N7°37′21″W / 53.691250°N 7.622591°W / 53.691250; -7.622591 (Ballynasaggart Abbey)
Cashel MonasteryAugustinian Canons Regular
ruins near parish church purportedly remains of a foundation dependent on Inchcleraun [notes 1]
53°35′30″N7°58′44″W / 53.591572°N 7.978842°W / 53.591572; -7.978842 (Cashel Monastery?) ?
Clonbroney Abbeyearly monastic site, nuns
purportedly founded 5th century by St Patrick;
dissolved after 1163
Cluain-bronaig;
Cluain-ebrone
53°45′04″N7°36′52″W / 53.751083°N 7.614539°W / 53.751083; -7.614539 (Clonbroney Abbey)
Cloondara Monasteryearly monastic site, probable patron St Ernan of Cloneogher, 6th centuryCluain-da-ratha;
Cluain-daragh
53°43′57″N7°54′26″W / 53.732593°N 7.907217°W / 53.732593; -7.907217 (Cloondara Monastery)
Cloneogher Monasteryearly monastic site, patron St Ernan, 6th century (in the time of St Colmcille)Cluain-deochra;
Clonogherie;
Clonoghrir
53°43′13″N7°56′19″W / 53.720355°N 7.938566°W / 53.720355; -7.938566 (Cloneogher Monastery (approx.)) (approx)
Druim-cheo Nunneryø~purported early monastic site, nuns — evidence lackingDruim-chea;
Bawn?
53°40′31″N7°48′14″W / 53.675409°N 7.803855°W / 53.675409; -7.803855 (Druim-cheo Nunnery? (approx?)) (approx?)
Forgney Monasteryearly monastic site, founded 5th century by St PatrickForgnaide 53°32′43″N7°40′59″W / 53.545408°N 7.682984°W / 53.545408; -7.682984 (Forgney Monastery (approx.)) (approx)
Granard Monasteryearly monastic site, founded 5th century by St Patrick, granted by Coirpre's sonsGranairud;
Granard Kill
53°46′42″N7°29′34″W / 53.778277°N 7.492762°W / 53.778277; -7.492762 (Granard Monastery (approx.)) (approx.)
Inchbofin MonasteryFormer county location. See List of monastic houses in County Westmeath
Inchcleraun Prioryearly monastic site, founded 6th century (c.540 or probably earlier) by St Diarmuid (Dermod);
Augustinian Canons Regular (— Arroasian)?
refounded after 1140;
plundered several times;
plundered 1098 by O'Brien
dissolved c.1541
Inis-clothrann;
Inis-cloghran;
Quaker Island
53°34′57″N8°00′23″W / 53.5823814°N 8.0064049°W / 53.5823814; -8.0064049 (Inchcleraun Priory)
Inchmore Priory, Lough Gownaearly monastic site, founded 6th century by St Colmcille
Augustinian Canons Regular (— Arroasian)?
dependent on Louth
refounded after 1140;
dissolved 1540, surrendered 8 October 1540; occupied by Lyosagh O'Ferral by 1548, by assignment with Sir Thomas Cusacke;
leased to James Nugent 1560
St Mary (from Augustinian refoundation, after 1140)
____________________
Inismor-Loch-Gamna;
Inchymory;
Columbkille, Lough Gawna/Lough Gowna;
Teampull Choluim Cille (early church)
53°49′23″N7°34′04″W / 53.8230512°N 7.567728°W / 53.8230512; -7.567728 (Inchmore Priory, Lough Gowna)
Inchmore Priory, Lough ReeFormer county location. See List of monastic houses in County Westmeath
Kilcommoc FriaryDominican Friars — probable place of refuge after expulsion from LongfordKil-comin;
Kil-cumin
[2]

53°36′07″N7°48′48″W / 53.6019789°N 7.8133177°W / 53.6019789; -7.8133177 (Kilcommoc Friary (possible)) (possible)
Kilglass Monasterypossible early monastic site, nuns
possibly founded 5th century by St Eiche, sister of St Mel and niece of St Patrick
Cell-glaissi [3]

53°37′56″N7°39′11″W / 53.632218°N 7.6530075°W / 53.632218; -7.6530075 (Kilglass Monastery)
Kilmodain Monasteryearly monastic siteAbbey of St Modan;
Cell-muadain, in Kilmahon?
53°48′59″N7°45′06″W / 53.8164886°N 7.751584°W / 53.8164886; -7.751584 (Kilmodain Monastery (approx.)) (approx)
Longford Friary +?Dominican Friars
founded 1400 by ——— O'Farrel;
Regular Observant Dominican Friars
reformed before 1429;
dissolved 1540-1, nominally suppressed;
friars probably remained in occupation
granted to Richard Nugent 1566-7;
dissolved 1578?; granted to Sir Nicholas Malby 1578;
granted to Francis, Vicount Valentia 1615;
restored to the friars 1641 during the Confederation;
friars' church in use by the Protestants until mid-19th century;
St John's C.I. parish church built on site, possibly incorporating some of the material from the friars' church
St Brigid
____________________

Latoria;
Longphort
53°43′53″N7°47′59″W / 53.7313233°N 7.7997969°W / 53.7313233; -7.7997969 (Longford Friary)
Longford Monasteryømistakenly-purported early monastic site [notes 2]
Raithin Monastery ~early monastic site, founded 5th century by St PatrickRaithen;
possibly Leath Rath, [notes 3] near Longford
Saints Island Priory, Lough Reedubious early monastic site founded before 542 by Ciaran; [notes 4]
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded before 1200 by a descendant of Sir Henry Dillon of Drumrany;
dissolved after 1600?;
Augustinian Friars
founded 1643
All Saints;
Inis-na-naomh;
Oilean-na-naomh;
Insula Omnium Sanctorum;
Insula Sacra;
Holy Island
53°33′17″N7°53′37″W / 53.5547835°N 7.8936341°W / 53.5547835; -7.8936341 (Saints Island Priory, Lough Ree)
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Notes

  1. S. Lewis, Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837, i, p.283
  2. Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.444 gives St Idus having a foundation here, which was actually at Aghade (Ath-fadat—"long ford"), County Carlow
  3. J. J. McNamee, DD, History of the Diocese of Ardagh, 1954, pp.34-5, 541
  4. James Ware, De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus ejus, 1654 edition, p.172 and others, confuse Saints Island and Inis Aingin, the latter being founded by St Ciaran. Louis Augustin Alemand, Monasticum Hibernicum, translated and edited by John Stevens, 1722, pp.49, 50, has a foundation by Ciaran at both locations, which is possible, though Inis Aingin alone is mentioned in the Life of St Ciaran: Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae, edited by Charles Plummer, 1910, i, pp.210, 211

References

  1. "Site details: Ballynasaggart - Monastic Ireland - A Comprehensive Database of Sites and Sources". tth2.co.uk.
  2. "KILLCOMMAC - Saint Brigit (6)". Flickr. 14 February 2012.
  3. "Home | Longford.ie". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2014.

See also