List of monastic houses in County Clare

Inclusion

In this article, 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, friary or preceptory/commandery.

Article 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

Alphabetical listing of establishments

Bishop's Island Monastery
Cannon Island Abbey
Clare Abbey
Corcomroe Abbey
Drumcliff Monastery
Dysert O Dea Monastery
ENNIS
(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)
Mucinis Monastery,
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 Friary ø
(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″N 9°41′28″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″N 9°02′14″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″N 8°58′09″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″N 9°03′14″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″N 8°59′51″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″N 9°04′06″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″N 8°58′54″W
Ennis Nunnery ø supposed nuns — erroneous interpretation[notes 3]
Ennis Monastery *
(Irish: Mainistir Inis Caorach)		 Poor Clares 52°50′41″N 8°58′45″W
Enniskerry Monastery early monastic site, oratory built by St Senan of Scattery Mutton Island;
Inis-caorach 		52°48′47″N 9°30′45″W
Ennistimon Monastery
(Irish: Mainistir Inis Díomáin)		 Gaelic monks Ennistymon;
Omos-timain;
Inis-tomen;
Inis-diomain 		52°56′16″N 9°18′05″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″N 8°58′20″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″N 9°00′57″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″N 8°17′28″W
Illaunmore, ø
Lough Derg		 possible monastic site — order and period unknown 52°35′57″N 9°46′21″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″N 8°54′23″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″N 8°26′54″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″N 9°00′59″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″N 9°02′08″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″N 9°47′11″W
Kilcarragh Monastery
(Irish: Mainistir Chill Chathrach)		 hospital or monastery;
granted to John King		 [15]
52°59′14″N 9°13′29″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″N 9°12′55″W
Killadusert Monastery
(Irish: Cill an Dísirt)		 Gaelic monks
founder unknown		 Killadysert;
Disert-murthaile;
Kildysert 		52°40′12″N 9°06′16″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″N 8°26′21″W
Killinaboy Monastery
(Irish: Cill Iníne Baoith)		 early monastic site, founded by Iníon Bhaoith 52°58′13″N 9°05′08″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″N 9°00′16″W
Kilnagallech Monastery ~
(Irish: Cill na gCailleach		 Gaelic nuns
probable cell		 Kinagalliagh;
Kilnagellech;
Cell-eochaille;
Cell-na-Caillech;
Kill-nac-caillech 		52°38′53″N 9°33′54″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″N 9°17′15″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″N 9°29′58″W (approx) or 52°55′10″N 8°25′22″W (approx)
Noughaval Monastery
(Irish: Mainistir Nuachabhála)		 Gaelic monks
founded by St Mogua		 Nuachongbhail [18][19]

53°00′57″N 9°10′49″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″N 9°2′19.65″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″N 8°51′31″W
Rath Monastery #
(Irish: Mainistir na Rátha)		 Gaelic monks
founded by St Blathmac;
stump of round tower demolished 1838		 Rathblathmaic [22]

52°55′03″N 9°05′08″W
Rossmanagher Monastery
(Irish: Mainistir Ros mBeannchair)		 Gaelic nuns Ros-bendchuir;
Ross-Bennchoir 		52°43′14″N 8°47′09″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″N 9°31′01″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″N 8°50′22″W
Tomgraney Abbey
(Irish: Mainistir Thuaim Gréine)		 Gaelic monks Tomgrany;
Tuamgranney;
Tuamgraney 		52°53′51″N 8°32′31″W
Tulla Abbey
(Irish: Mainistir na Tulaí)		 Gaelic monks 52°52′01″N 8°45′24″W
Click on a county to go to the corresponding article

Notes
  1. Behagh given as County Clare by Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.43 (W. B. Kelly, Dublin, publication p.72), mis-citing Sir James Ware; local tradition of friary at Behagh in County Clare probably originate from Archdall's error
  2. Bishop's Island remains of monastery, foundation attributed to St Senan — Lord Killanin & M. V. Duignan, Shell Guide to Ireland, 1962, (new edition 1967), p.321 (though not in 1989 edition)
  3. Ennis nuns — Wars of Turlogh, (E. B. Fitzmaurice & A. G. Little, Materials for History of the Franciscan Province of Ireland pp.80-1) taken to refer to nuns; communications of Canice Mooney, OFM, point out that the word used,'caileach', translates as 'chalice', as opposed to 'cailleach' (nun)
  4. Inchicronan "ruins of...Augustinian priory...on a site whose history goes back to St Crónán of Tuamgraney" — Lord Killanin & M. V. Duignan, Shell Guide to Ireland, 1962, (new edition 1967), p.184 (p.124 in 1989 edition)
  5. Inislanlaoi — listed as a separate foundation at Ennis by Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.77
  6. Inishloe (Inislua) — location given by Mervyn Archdall Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786
  7. Inish-loinge — "penitentiarius de Inis-Lauidhe" — Acta Sanctorum ... Hiberniae, compiled by John Colgan, 1645, pp.537, 540
  8. Kilfarboy — given as Kilfobrick — Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.52

References
  1. Clare People: Saint Senan
  2. Clare
  3. Abbey, or Corcomroe-Abbey (Barony of Burren)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Monastic Sites In Ireland - GoIreland
  7. Drumcliffe
  8. Dysert O'Dea - The Clare Archaeology Centre
  9. The Burren: Dysert O'Dea Church
  10. Friaries In Ireland - GoIreland
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. Archived 2007-11-18 at the Wayback Machine
  13. The Coming of Christianity to Clare and the evolution of the Diocese of Killaloe and Kilfenora
  14. "Inishcealtra". clare.ie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  15. Statistical Survey of the County of Clare 1808 - Chapter V.25
  16. The History and Topography of the County of Clare by James Frost: Chapter 7 - Kilshanny Parish
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20100913073838/http://www.lisdoonvarnakilshanny.com/pages.asp?pageid=75584. Archived from the original on 13 September 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. Monastic Sites In Ireland - GoIreland
  19. Saints and Stones: Noughaval Church
  20. Ó Riain, Pádraig (2011). A Dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin: Four Courts Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-84682-318-3.
  21. Gwynn, Aubrey; Hadcock, R. Neville (1970). Medieval Religious Houses Ireland. London: Longman. p. 400.

See also
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