List of monastic houses in County Kerry

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
Foundation Image Communities & Provenance Formal Name or Dedication
& Alternative Names 		OnLine References & Location
Abbeydorney Abbey Cistercian monks — from Monasteranenagh
daughter of Monasteranenagh;
founded 1154 founder unknown - erroneously given as a Fitzmaurice;
daughter of Mellifont;
daughter of Monasteranenagh
restored;
dissolved 1537 (though last abbot active until 1577)
site now in use as a graveyard		 Odorney;
Kyrie Eleison;
Monaster-O-d'Torna 		52°21′12″N 9°41′15″W
Aghadoe Monastery ?Augustinian Canons Regular
purportedly founded 7th century by St Finan Lobhar;
extant 992;
non-monastic church of the Holy Trinity and St Mary built on site 1158;
damaged by gales 1282;
erenaghs up to 1450 (NM)		 Achad-da-eo;
Aithedea 		52°04′36″N 9°33′16″W
Alltraige-caille Monastery ~ early monastic site, founded 6th century location unknown - possibly nr Tralee
Ardfert Friary Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual
founded c.1253 by Thomas Fitzmaurice Fitzraymond, Lord of Kerry, purportedly buried here;
Observant Franciscan Friars
refounded 1517;
dissolved 1584, friars expelled, some remained in the area;(NM)		 Ard-ferta-brenainn;
Hertfert;
Hyferte;
Ifert 		52°19′48″N 9°46′26″W
Ardfert Dominican Friary ≈ Domincan Friars — erroneous reference to the Franciscan Friary (see immediately above)
Ardfert Cathedral Monastery early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Brendan of Clonfert;
episcopal diocesan cathedral
founded after 1111, translated from Ratass		 52°19′44″N 9°46′54″W
Ballinskelligs Priory early monastic site founded 11th century?;
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian
founded c.1210?;
dissolved after 1555; granted to John Blake 1585; (NM)		 Ballin-skelligs;
St Michael de Rupe;
St Michael's Mount 		51°48′56″N 10°16′19″W
Bentee Mount Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites 51°56′00″N 10°12′58″W (approx)
Brandon Mountain Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites, purportedly founded by St Brendan of Clonfert;
possibly continuing after 1111		 52°14′55″N 10°12′04″W (approx)
Caherbarbagh Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites 51°51′25″N 10°07′46″W (approx)
Carrig Island Monastery, ø
Arghavallen parish		 possible early monastic site, "Abbey (in ruins)"[notes 1] 52°34′33″N 9°30′02″W
Church Island Monastery, Valentia Harbour
Lough Kay		 Cherich-inis?;
Lough Kay 		51°56′15″N 10°17′00″W
Church Island Monastery, Lough Currane early monastic site, Anchorites;
founded by Finan Cam		 Lough Curane 51°50′05″N 10°07′45″W
Derrynane Abbey early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 7th century by the monks of St Bairre or by St Finan Cam		 Achad-mor;
Abbey Island;
Darrynane;
Ahamore;
Aghamore 		51°45′27″N 10°08′34″W
Dingle Cell Augustinian Canons Regular
cell, dependent on Killagha — probably not conventual, possibly a vicarage;
founded after 1216;
dissolved before 1428		 Daingean-ui-chuis;
Dingle-i-cuche
Dingle Friary Dominican Friars
possible vicarage and land owned by the Black Friars
Feaghman West Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites 51°54′54″N 10°20′53″W
Gallarus Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites Gall-ros 52°10′22″N 10°20′58″W
Illaunloughan early monastic site, stone oratories 51°53′12″N 10°22′24″W
Illauntannig Island Monastery,
Maghree Islands		 early monastic site, Gaelic monks;
founded 6th century by St Seanach		 52°19′34″N 10°01′12″W
Innisfallen Abbey, Innisfallen Island early monastic site, founded 7th century by Faithlann, son of Aedh damhan, King of Iar-muman (or Finan Lobhair, or Finan Camm;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded after 1197?;
dissolved 1589? — probably abandoned by 1589; granted to Robert Collam;
granted to Valentine Brown;
Augustinian Friars
(NM)		 St Mary
____________________
Inis-faithlen;
Inys-fachlyn 		52°02′48″N 9°33′15″W
Inishtooskert Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites St Brendan 52°07′39″N 10°34′48″W
Inishvickillane Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites St Brendan
____________________
Inis-mic-cilleain 		52°02′37″N 10°36′27″W
Keeldarragh Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites 51°52′38″N 10°09′31″W
Kerry Preceptory, ~ Tralee? Knights Hospitaller
founded before 1212;
dissolution unknown
Kilcolman Abbey,
Milltown		 early monastic site Killagh;
Killaha 		52°08′59″N 9°43′50″W
Kildreelig Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites 51°47′48″N 10°18′39″W
Kildreenagh Monastery
in Loher		 early monastic site, Anchorites 51°46′55″N 10°09′56″W (approx)
Kildrenagh Monastery
in Valencia		 early monastic site, Anchorites 51°54′27″N 10°22′34″W (approx)
Killabuonia Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites
founded 6th century by Buonia (Beoanigh)		 51°50′53″N 10°19′55″W
Killagha Abbey,
Milltown		 early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 6th century by Abban (Alban);
probably dissolved for some time prior to the Augustinian foundation;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded c.1216 by Geoffrey de Marusci (during the reign of King John);
dissolved 1576; granted to Thomas Clinton and subsequently to Thomas Spring		 St Mary de Bello Loco
____________________
Cell-achaid-conchinn;
Kill-agha;
Kill-egue;
Kilcolman;
Killahensis in Munster (under Augustinian Friars) 		52°08′58″N 9°43′49″W
Killarney Franciscan Friary * Franciscan Friars
transferred from Gorey 1860;
church opened 1867;
friary opened 1879;
became the Novitiate House of the Irish Province for a time;
extant		 [1]
Killemlagh Monastery ~ early monastic site, founded by St Finan the Leper, or chapel by St Finan Cam
Killiney Monastery possible early monastic site;
St Saviour's C.I. parish church built on site		 [2]

52°14′56″N 10°02′20″W
Killobarnaun Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites Killavarnaun 51°57′12″N 10°13′33″W
Killoe Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites 51°54′16″N 10°10′17″W (approx)
Killogrone Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites 51°55′07″N 10°10′45″W
Kilmalkedar Monastery early monastic site, probably continuing after 1111 Cell-maeilchetair 52°11′05″N 10°20′11″W
Kilrellig Monastery,
Bolus Head		 51°47′48″N 10°18′39″W
Kilpeacon Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites Kilpeacan 51°53′44″N 10°13′17″W (approx)
Lislaughtin Abbey Observant Franciscan Friars
founded 1470-7 by John O'Connor, Lord of Iraghticonnor, who had requested permission from the Pope in 1477;
dissolved 1580, destroyed by the Protestants;
rebuilt 1629;
granted to James Scrolls;
granted to Sir Edward Denny (NM)		 Leasa-lauchtin;
Lislachtin;
Hilleanbegha 		52°33′26″N 9°28′12″W
Lisselton Friary ≈ erroneous reference to Franciscan Friars — mistaken identification of Lislaughtin
Muckross Abbey Observant Franciscan Friars
founded 1440-8 by Donal, son of Thady MacCarthy, possibly on the site of an earlier monastery;
restored by Donal, son of Thady MacCarthy 1468;
dissolved 1586-9, purportedly leased out 1587;
granted to Robert Collan 1595;
reoccupied 1612;
old buildings restored after 1617		 The Holy Trinity
____________________
Carraig-na-chiuil;
Irrelagh;
Irialach;
Monaster-Airbhealaigh;
Oirbhealach 		52°01′34″N 9°29′41″W
Oriel Monastery early monastic site Monaster-ni-Oriel;
Abbey Oriel 		51°53′59″N 9°28′26″W
Rathmore Cistercian monks
founded 1861;
temporary refuge for monks evicted from Melleray, France		 [3]
Ratass Cathedral Monastery early monastic site, founded 6th century;
probably continuing after 1111;
episcopal diocesan cathedral
founded 1111, church elevated to cathedral status by the Synod of Rathbreasail;
translated to Ardfert before 1117		 Raith-maige-deiscirt;
Rathass 		52°16′01″N 9°40′55″W
Rattoo Monastery,
nr Ballyduff		 early monastic site - founded 6th century by Bishop Lugaid/Lugach Rath-muighe-tuaiscirt - "fort/rath of the northern plain". [4]
52°26′33″N 9°38′59″W
Rattoo Abbey,
nr Ballyduff		 possibly Fratres Cruciferi or Knights Hospitaller
hospital founded c.1200 by Brother William;
?Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian
founded before 1207;
dissolved 1542, officially suppressed, convent possibly continued until c.1581;
fortified by the Irish, who destroyed it to prevent it falling to the forces of Sir Charles Willmott; (NM)		 The Hospital of Saint John the Baptist
The Priory Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
____________________
Ballyduff Abbey 		[5]
br />52°26′35″N 9°38′46″W
Riasc Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites
founded 6th century;
probably continuing after 1111		 Reask 52°10′03″N 10°23′16″W
St Manchan's Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites
founded by St Manchan		 Teampall Geal 52°08′38″N 10°21′31″W
Scarriff Monastery early monastic site, Anchorites Sgairbh 51°43′38″N 10°15′21″W (approx)
Skellig Michael Monastery,
Great Skellig Island		 early monastic site, purportedly founded by a St Finan;
plundered by the Danes 824;
rebuilt 860;
most of the community transferred to Ballinaskellig probably before mid-11th century, hermits probably remaining into the medieval period		 Great Skellig;
Raith-maigi-tuaiscirt;
Rath-maigi-tuaiscirt;
Rath-maigi-tuaidh;
Rath-maigi-tuoindhi;
Rath-maigi-tuoinoyd;
Rath-maigi-toy;
Rath-maigi-ytue;
Doraythoyg;
Rahtuahc;
Raythnayt 		51°46′20″N 10°32′19″W
Temple Cashel Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic nuns 51°50′52″N 10°22′03″W
Termons Monastery early monastic site 51°50′59″N 10°10′13″W
Tralee Holy Cross Priory Dominican Friars
founded 1243 by Lord John FitzThomas FitzGerald (John of Callan), buried here;
dissolved 1580		 The Dominican Church of Holy Cross Abbey;
The Priory of the Holy Cross, Tralee 		[6]

52°16′05″N 9°42′35″W

The following location in County Kerry lacks monastic connection:

  • Ardfert Abbey: Georgian mansion, home of the Crosbie family, destroyed by IRA bomb 1922
Click on a county to go to the corresponding article

Notes
  1. Ordnance Survey

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-10. Retrieved 2014-12-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Killiney Stone Cross, Medieval Church and Tower, Kerry
  4. https://www.academia.edu/2058454/The_see-lands_of_the_diocese_of_Ardfert_an_essay_in_reconstruction
  5. Rattoo
  6. Holy Cross Dominican Church - Tralee Co. Kerry - Ireland

See also
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.