List of monastic houses in County Offaly

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
Banagher Monastery early monastic site;
church of St Mary built on site, now ruined		 Bennchore 53°11′21″N 7°59′13″W
Birr Monastery # early monastic site, founded before 573 by St Brendan of Birr;
plundered by the men of Dublin 842;
burned 1167		 Biorra;
Birra;
Biror;
Parsonstown 		53°05′42″N 7°54′48″W
Clareen Monastery founded 6th century St Kieran; Seir Kieran 52°59′54″N 7°54′45″W
Cloghan Friary ~ Franciscan Friars
purportedly founded c.1595 by the Lord Deputy, Sir William Russell, who took Cloghan Castle from O'Madden[notes 1] — dubious
Clonmacnoise Cathedral and Monastery early monastic site; diocesan cathedral 1111;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded after 1140;
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian?
refounded? c.1144;
dissolved c.1268;
secular college
founded 1459;;
dissolved 1568		 Cluain-maccu-nois;
Cluain-mic-nois;
Cluan;
Tipraic, with Eaglais-beaag 		53°19′35″N 7°59′09″W
Clonmacnoise Abbey Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian?
founded 12th century separate from the cathedral (see immediately above);
dissolution date unknown — later abbots (up to 1384) may have been titular
Clonmacnoise Abbey (nuns) early monastic site, nuns
founded before 1026;
Augustinian nuns — Arroasian;
dependent on Clonard;
refounded c.1144? by Devorghilla, daughter of Murchad O Melaghlin; St Mary's church rebuilt
dependent on Kilcreevanty 1223;
dissolved after 1500?		 St Mary
____________________
Kelbygmieth;
Kellogainechan;
Riaghtalta Kailleach 		53°19′42″N 7°58′42″W
Clonsast Monastery early monastic site, founded late 7th century by St Bearchan[notes 2] Cluain-Sasta 53°13′18″N 7°08′13″W
Cluain-an-dobhair ~ early monastic site, not yet identified, possibly located in County Offaly
Cluain-dachrann Monastery ~ possible chapel or cell of Rahan, possibly founded by St Carthag erroneously Clonrane,[notes 3] County Westmeath
Craebheach Monastery ~ early monastic site, possibly founded c.450 by St Trian, disciple of St Patrick
possibly located in County Offaly, site near the River Brosna, possibly near Clonmacnois		 Croebheach;
Craibheach
Croghan Monastery early monastic site, founded before 490/492 Cruachan Bri Eli 53°20′45″N 7°17′39″W
Drumcullen Monastery ~ early monastic site, founded before 591, also given located in County Westmeath[notes 4] Druim-cuilinn 53°06′19″N 7°43′48″W
Durrow Abbey early monastic site, founded 556 or 565 by St Colmcille, site granted by Aedh mac Brendain, King of Tethba;
burned 1095;
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian
probable double monastery with Durrow Priory (see immediately below);
founded after 1144? by Murchad O'Melaghlin, possibly at the instance of St Malachy;
burned 1153;
burned twice 1155;
destroyed by the Anglo-Normans 1175;
founded after; 310,317
 St Mary
____________________
Dermag-coluim-cille;
Diarmag-coluim-cille;
Durmag-coluim-cille;
Dorro;
Dower;
Deevo? (sic. County Westmeath) 		53°19′33″N 7°31′11″W
Durrow Priory # Augustinian nuns — Arroasian
dependent on Clonard;
probable double monastery with Durrow Abbey (see immediately above);
founded after 1144? by Murchad O'Melaghlin, possibly at the instance of St Malachy;
dissolved after 1195?, granted to the nuns of Clonard; nuns probably transferred to Killeigh after 1195		 St Mary
Gageborough Priory nuns (order unknown)
founded 13th century? by Matilda de Lacy;
dissolution unknonwn		 53°23′22″N 7°36′06″W (approx)
Gallen Priory founded 5th century by St Canoc;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded c.1140-8;
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian?
possibly adopted at the instance of St Malachy;
ruined 1519;
plundered 1531 and 1548;
probably dissolved before/c. 1585; granted to Sir Gerald More 1612;
reoccupied after 1620
probably refounded by the MacCoghlans, benefactors		 Gallimh;
Galeang;
Galin;
Galynn;
Glinnensis 		53°15′45″N 7°49′24″W
Kilbian Monastery ≈ early monastic site, founded 583,[notes 5] possibly by St Abban,[notes 6] possibly located in County Offaly Kilmbian?
Kilcolgan Monastery early monastic site, founded by St Colgan son of Kellach Cell-colgain 53°16′18″N 7°46′56″W (approx?)
Kilcolman Monastery early monastic site, founded by St Colman Niger (possibly Colman of Duir-mor) Cell-colmain;
Insula Vitae[notes 7] 		53°02′53″N 7°52′35″W
Kilcomin Monastery early monastic site, founded before 669 Cell-cumain;
Disert Chuimin 		52°58′07″N 7°57′46″W
Kilcormac Friary Carmelite Friars
founded 1406 by Odo (Hugh), son of Nellan Mulloy, buried here;
dissolved before 1579?; granted to George Cowley 1579;
granted to Robert Leicester, probably after 1599		 St Mary
____________________
Cell-chormaic;
Kil-carmic;
Kil-marmick;
Frankford 		53°10′38″N 7°43′35″W
Killagally Monastery ≈ early monastic site Kilalga? (County Meath)
Killeigh Priory += early monastic site
abbey founded before 549 by St Sinchell, son of Cenandan;
Augustinian Canons Regular
dependent on Durrow;
priory founded after 1144?;
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian
probably adopted before 1148 or after 1163;
dissolved c.1569; granted to John Lee 1576;
temporal possessions granted to Gerald, Earl of Kildare 1578;
church became parochial;
remains incorporated into C.I. parish church		 The Holy Cross[notes 8]
St Mary (15th century) 		53°12′56″N 7°27′15″W
Killeigh Priory (nuns) # Augustinian Canonesses — Arroasian?
founded after 1195?;
dissolved c.1569?		 53°12′45″N 7°27′05″W
Killeigh Friary Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual
founded 1293? (before 1303) by Edward I;
dissolved c.1598, buildings destroyed c.1598; granted to John Allee, friars apparently remained in the area
Observant Franciscan Friars
adopted 1632		 53°12′49″N 7°27′11″W
Killyon Monastery early monastic site, nuns
founded 5th century (after the death of his father) by St Ciaran for his mother, Liedania		 Cell-liadain;
Kil-liadhuin 		53°05′56″N 7°48′52″W
Kilmeelchon Monastery early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Gussacht mac Milchon;
extant 883		 Cell-mic-milchon 53°11′24″N 8°00′33″W (approx)
Kinnitty Monastery # early monastic site, possibly founded by 557;
plundered by Norsemen 842;
site possibly marked by a High cross within a churchyard		 [1]

53°06′11″N 7°41′51″W (possibly)
Lemanaghan Monastery early monastic site, founded c.645-6 by St Managhan?, land granted to the community at Clonmacnoise;
extant 893; apparently extant 1205		 St Managhan
____________________
Leith-manchain;
Liath-manchain;
Manchan Leith;
Tuaim nEirc 		53°17′35″N 7°44′37″W
Lusmagh Monastery early monastic site, founded 7th century by St Cronan Herbosus Campus 53°10′21″N 8°01′13″W (?)
Lusmagh Friary ≈ø Franciscan Friars — possibly never established Clochincantualaig?
Lynally Monastery # Columban monks
founded c.590 by St Colman Elo;
burned by Dohmnall mac Murchadh 970		 Lann-Elo;
Lann-Eala;
Linnalli;
Lynnealla 		53°15′55″N 7°33′21″W
Monasteroris Friary Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual
founded 1325 by John de Bermingham, Earl of Louth;
Observant Franciscan Friars
adopted before 1507;
dissolved after 1542; granted to Nicholas Herbert before 1587		 Feoruis;
Macfeorais;
Mainister-oras;
Moitot;
Mortoto;
Thetmoy;
Totmoy;
Tuaith-maigh 		53°20′51″N 7°05′02″W
Roscrea — Mount St Joseph's Abbey * Cistercian monks — Trappist — from Mount Melleray Abbey, County Waterford
founded 1878;
extant		 [2]

52°57′49″N 7°51′21″W
Rahan Monastery early monastic site, monks
founded c.590-635, purportedly by Camelacus, Patrician bishop;
great monastery founded by St Carthach (Mochuda);
suggested[notes 9] Augustinian Canons Regular
briefly, possibly after 1171 — improbable and documentary evidence lacking		 St Carthach
____________________
Raihen;
Rath-an;
Rath-enin;
Rath-yne 		53°16′42″N 7°36′43″W
Rathlihen Monastery early monastic site, founded before c.540 by St Illand Rathlipthen;
Rathlibthen 		53°11′57″N 7°38′57″W
Reynagh Monastery early monastic site, nuns Cell-rignaighe;
Kill-rignaighe;
suggested Kilrane,[notes 10] County Wexford 		53°09′22″N 7°57′36″W
Seirkieran Priory early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Ciaran;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded before c.1170;
dissolved 1568, surrendered 27 December 1568		 St Ciaran;
St Mary
____________________
Saiger Chiarain;
Saegir-Querayn;
St Keranus de Sayr
Kieran de Sayr;
Sayrkeran;
Syrkyeran 		53°04′13″N 7°47′33″W
Tihelly Monastery # early monastic site founded 5th century;
burned 670;		 Tihilly;
Tech-telle;
Tech-taille;
Tehelly;
Templekieran 		53°18′39″N 7°32′39″W
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Notes
  1. Cassell, Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland ii, p.52
  2. O. S. Muirthuile, Tullamore Official Guide, p.16; E. Hogan, Onomasticon Goedelicum, R.I.A., 1910 p.270
  3. Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.708
  4. Harris's Table, Ware-Harris, Antiquities, 1745, p.264 and Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.709
  5. Conry
  6. Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p398
  7. Ordnance Survey
  8. James Ware, De Hibernia, et Antiquitatibus ejus, 1654 edition
  9. Journal, Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, xxvi. p.317
  10. E. Hogan, S. J., Onomasticon Goedelicum, R.I.A., 1910, p.210

References
  1. "High Cross Kinnitty". megalithicireland.com.
  2. Mount St Joseph Abbey Roscrea

See also
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