Moyne Abbey

Moyne Abbey is one of the most impressive ecclesiastical ruins in Mayo and a National Monument.

The Abbey

History

It was founded before the year (1455) by McWilliam Bourke family as a Franciscan friary and consecrated in 1462. It is located north of Ballina on the west side of Killala Bay on the old Ballina or "French" road. Like its neighbour, Rosserk Friary, it was burnt by Sir Richard Bingham, Elizabeth I of England's governor of Connacht, in 1590 in reformationist zeal. It’s believed friars continued to reside there until about 1800.[1]

The friary was built in the late Irish Gothic style and has extensive ruins, consisting of a church and domestic buildings situated around a central cloister. Its west doorway is a seventeenth insertion. Its east window displays fine switchline tracery.

See also
  • List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Mayo)

References
  1. "Moyne Abbey", Discover Ireland, Failte Ireland
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