List of monastic houses in County Down

Overview

In this article smaller establishments such as cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks) and camerae of the military orders of monks (Templars and 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.

Monastic Glossary: following the listing, provides links to articles on the particular monastic orders as well as other terms which appear in the listing.


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
ø possibly 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:
NM National Monument
C.I. Church of Ireland
R.C. Roman Catholic Church

Alphabetical listing of establishments

Foundation Image Communities & Provenance Formal Name or Dedication
& Alternative Names 		OnLine References & Location
Achad-chail Monastery early monastic site, founded by 5th century
Ardicinise Monastery Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
founded by Hugh Burgo, local tradition of such a foundation, — evidence lacking;
probably Hollywood, v. infra, (Ard-micnascai being the Irish name for Hollywood)
Ard-mic-nascai Monastery early monastic site, founded before 640 by St Laiseran;
Holywood Priory (v. infra) built on site		 Ard-mac-Croisk;
Ard-mic-nascai;
Ardnicise? 		54°38′35″N 5°49′52″W / 54.6431541°N 5.8311098°W
Bangor Abbey Gaelic monks
founded 555 or 559 by St Comgall;
Augustinian Canons Regular — from Armagh
refounded after 1123-4 by St Malachy;
destroyed 1127 during local conflicts c.1140, causing the departure of Malachy and many of his disciples, settling at Ibracense;
dissolved 1539;
assertion of refounding as a Franciscan house is a misinterpretation;
site now incorporated into CI church		 Beannchor;
Bennchor;
Vallis Angelorum;
White Choir 		54°39′20″N 5°40′29″W / 54.6556693°N 5.6747936°W
Bright Monastery early monastic site, founded before 540 by St Loarn Mrechtan;
Breatain;
Brich;
Inreathan 		[1][2]
54°16′33″N 5°40′06″W / 54.2757772°N 5.6684483°W (approx)
Burren Dominican Friars — from Newtownards — place of refuge, apparently after the Restoration An Bhoireann;
Boirinn;
Ballyburrin 		[3]
54°14′36″N 5°57′46″W / 54.243241°N 5.962724°W (approx)
Castleboy Preceptory Knights Hospitaller
founded 1198 by Hugh de Lacy;
dissolved c.1414;
leased 1584 to George Alexander		 St John-in-Ards;
St John-in-Ardee;
St Johnston;
St Johnstowne;
Castle-Buy 		[4]
54°16′31″N 5°40′05″W / 54.275276°N 5.6680192°W (approx)
Cill-mBian Monastery ~ early monastic site, possibly located in County Down, founded before 584 by Fergus, Bishop of Down Nemhan
Coelestius
Killmain 		[5]
54°23′21″N 5°47′17″W / 54.389128°N 5.788050°W (approx)
Clonduff Monastery early monastic site Cluain daim [6]
54°11′55″N 6°07′07″W / 54.19860°N 6.11855°W
Comber Abbey # Cistercian monks — from Whitland
founded 25 January 1200 by Brien Catha Dun on the site of earlier monastery (see immediately below);
dissolved 1543; granted to James Hamilton, Viscount Clandeboy; assigned to Lord Ardes;
site now occupied by St Mary's C.I. church		 Comar;
Domnach-combair;
Comerer;
Cumber;
Cunbyr 		[7][8]
54°33′01″N 5°44′36″W / 54.55027°N 5.74340°W
Comber monastery early monastic site, founded by St Patrick
Donaghmore Monastery early monastic site, founded mid-5th century by St Mac-Erc Domnach-mor-maige-cobha [9]
54°14′38″N 6°13′59″W / 54.2439085°N 6.2329637°W (approx)
Downpatrick Monastery # early monastic site, traditionally founded 5th century by St Patrick on the dun or ráth on which the CI cathedral now stands Dun-da-lethglas;
Dun-Celtair;
Dun 		54°19′40″N 5°43′16″W / 54.3278839°N 5.7211573°W
Downpatrick Friary # Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
founded c.1240 (before 1243) by Hugh de Lacy, Earl of Ulster;
burnt 1316;
granted to Gerald, Earl of Kildare;
Observant Franciscan Friars
reformed 1567?;
expelled by English protestants 1569;
returned 1570;
expelled again later;
destroyed by the English, church retained as a courthouse;
another house built for the convent in the vicinity 1627 (see immediately below)		 [10]
Downpatrick Observant Friary # Observant Franciscan Friars
founded 1627 in the vicinity of the earlier friary (see immediately above);
dissolved 1650s		  
Downpatrick, St John's Priory Augustinian Canons Regular
founded 1138 by Malachi O'Morgair;
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian
adopted after 1140;
incorporated in Down Cathedral 1513;
dissolved before 1541; granted to Gerald, Earl of Kildare		 probably St John the Evangelist, though given as St John the Baptist (confusion with Cruciferi priory)
____________________
Monastery of the Irish;
Monaster-Grellach 		[11]
Downpatrick, St Thomas the Martyr's Priory Augustinian Canons Regular
founded before 1183 by John de Courcy, granted by him to the prior and canons of Carlisle;
incorporated into Down Cathedral 1513;
dissolved before 1541; granted to Gerald, Earl of Kildare 1541		 St Thomas the Martyr
____________________
Toberglory 		[12]
54°19′19″N 5°42′44″W / 54.32186°N 5.71219°W (approx)
Downpatrick Cruciferi Priory Fratres Cruciferi
founded before 1200 by John de Courcy;
incorporated into Down Cathedral 1513;
dissolved before 1541; granted to Gerald, Earl of Kildare		 St John the Baptist
____________________
The Priory of the English 		[12]
54°19′33″N 5°42′38″W / 54.32585°N 5.71049°W (approx)
Downpatrick Priory Cistercian or Benedictine nuns
convent founded before 1200? purportedly by the Bagnal family;
ruinous by 1513;
incorporated into Down Cathedral 1513		 The Nunnery of the Blessed Mary [12]
54°19′36″N 5°42′58″W / 54.3267°N 5.71622°W (approx)
Dromore Friary Franciscan Friars
founded 1637;
dissolved c.1717
Dromore Monastery + early monastic site, founded 6th century? (c.513) by St Mocholmog (Colman);
episcopal diocesan cathedral 1192?, extant		 Druim-mor-mocholmog [13]
54°24′53″N 6°09′06″W / 54.4146743°N 6.151705°W
Drumbo Abbey early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Patrick?;
plundered by Connor, son of Artgal M'Lochlin 1130		 Druim-bo [14][15]
54°31′00″N 5°57′37″W / 54.5166466°N 5.9601618°W
Dundrum Preceptory Knights Templar
castle purportedly built 1183 by John de Courcy;
in their possession until 1313;
granted to the prior of Down		 [16]
54°15′43″N 5°50′42″W / 54.2618692°N 5.8449696°W
Dunsy Island Monastery
Killinchy in the lough		 early monastic site, founded by St Duinseach Oileán Dúinsighe;
Ilandushagh 		[17][18][19]
54°27′24″N 5°37′11″W / 54.45671°N 5.61968°W
Erenagh Abbey Savignac monks — from Furness
founded 1127 by Niall Mac Dunlevi, King of Ulster;
Cistercian monks
orders merged 1147-8;
destroyed by John de Courcy 1177; transferred to Inch 1177		 Erynagh;
Ernes;
Urney;
Carig;
Carrig;
Carricke;
Templenageerah 		[20][21][22]
54°17′25″N 5°44′20″W / 54.290342°N 5.738813°W (approx)
Grey Abbey Cistercian monks — from Holmcultram
founded 25 August 1193 by Africa, wife of John de Courcy;
dissolved 1 February 1541;
granted to English colonists by Elizabeth I; burnt by Sir Brian O'Neill 1572 to prevent the colonists seeking shelter there;
rebuilt and served for a time as a parish church		 Jugum Dei;
Monaster-Liath;
Leigh 		54°32′13″N 5°33′18″W / 54.5370032°N 5.5549235°W
Holywood Priory Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
built on site of Ard-mic-nascai Monastery (v. supra);
Holywood (Ard Mhic Nasca in Irish) was named Sanctus Boscus ("Holy Wood") by the Normans after the woodland surrounding the monastery		 Ard-mac-Croisk;
Ard-mic-nascai;
Ardnicise?;
de Sacro Bosco ("Holy Wood") 		54°38′35″N 5°49′53″W / 54.64312°N 5.83126°W
Inch Abbey Cistercian monks — from Furness
founded 1180 (or 1188) by John de Courcy, on the site of an earlier monastery (see immediately below), replacing the monastery at Carig (Erenagh) which he destroyed;
dissolved 1541		 Iniscourcey;
Inis-courcey;
Insula Curcii 		[23]
54°20′12″N 5°43′45″W / 54.33663°N 5.72921°W
Inch Monastery early monastic site, foundation and founder unknown;
plundered by Sitric and Norsemen 1001;
plundered 1149		 Inis-cumbscraigh;
Inis;
Egnis;
Kilbroney Monastery early monastic site, founded by St Brónach Brónchi uirginis
Bronach uirgo o Glinn Sechis
Cill Bronaighe - Bronach's Church
Chill Sechis
Bronach ógh ó 		[24][25]
54°06′41″N 6°11′03″W / 54.11137°N 6.18403°W
Kilclief Monastery early monastic site, purportedly founded by St Patrick;
plundered and burned 935; annexed to Down see 1034		 Cell-clethi;
Cell-cleithe;
Kyleleth 		[26]
54°20′05″N 5°32′49″W / 54.33483°N 5.54682°W
Killinchy Monastery
Killinchy in the plain		 early monastic site, founded by St Duinseach Cell-insi;
Killiny;
Kilwyinchi;
Cill Dhuinsí;
Ecclesia de Kilwyinchi 		[27][28][29]
54°28′25″N 5°40′33″W / 54.47365°N 5.67582°W
Killinchy Monastery
Killinchy in the woods		 early monastic site, founded by St Duinseach Cill Dunsí na Coille;
Killinchy Nekelly 		[30][31][32]
54°24′56″N 5°44′47″W / 54.41543°N 5.74645°W
Kilmbian Monastery ~ early monastic site, possibly located in County Down, founded before 584 by Fergus, Bishop of Down Cell-biain;
Cill-m-Bian;
Cill-biein;
Kil-m-bian
Kiltonga Monastery cell, unknown order, foundation or founder;
referred to as the chapel of Kilarneid		 Killarneid 54°35′57″N 5°43′10″W / 54.5991863°N 5.7195146°W (approx)
Maghera Monastery early monastic site, founded before 567 by St Domangard, Bishop, disciple of St Patrick Machaire-ratha [33]
54°14′17″N 5°53′51″W / 54.2381057°N 5.8974614°W
Magheralin Monastery early monastic site;
occupied by remains of 15th-century church		 Lann-mocholmoc; [34]
54°27′59″N 6°15′38″W / 54.4664921°N 6.2605369°W
Moneyscalp Friary Dominican Friars — from their place of refuge at Burren, (supra) Ballymonyskalpie;
Muine Scealp 		[35]
54°13′41″N 5°58′26″W / 54.227966°N 5.973925°W (approx)
Movilla Abbey early monastic site, founded before 579 by St Finnian of Moville;
burnt by Norsemen 825;
revived by St Malachy after 1124;
Augustinian Canons Regular
refounded after 1135?;
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian?
adopted after 1140;
dissolved 1542;
site occupied by 13th-15th-century church		 Moville;
Magbile;
Maghbille;
Mable;
Mainbile;
Moybily 		54°35′35″N 5°41′20″W / 54.593°N 5.689°W
Nendrum Monastery, Mahee Island (Strangford Lough) Patrician monks
founded 5th century by St Patrick;
burned 10th century		 Oendruim;
Aonagh-urmuman;
Oinach-urmuman;
Nenddrum;
Noindrum;
Noendoma;
Mahee Island

54°29′53″N 5°38′53″W / 54.498°N 5.648°W
Nendrum Priory Benedictine monks
cell, dependent on St Bees
founded 1179 by John de Courcy, who granted land to St Bees (dependent on St Mary's, York), on site of earlier monastery (see immediately above);
confirmed to York 1222;
disposed of by Henry de Horton 1288;
dissolved before 1298;
monks probably resided at Templepatrick 13th century;
by 1306 a parish church, abandoned 15th century
Newry Abbey possible foundation of Patrician monks
possible Benendictine monks
founded before 1148?
Cistercian monks — from Mellifont
founded 1153 by Maurice MacLaughlin, King of Ireland;
confirmation of possessions granted 1538 to become a secular collegiate church;
surrendered 10 August 1550; granted to Sir Nicholas Bagnall, Marshall of the Army April 1552;
chapel on site until c.1744 and abbot’s house apparentlyconverted into a private residence;
site was cleared end of 18th century for the construction of the modern town;
a stone carved with a cross in low relief incorporated into the walls of McCann’s bakery, currently on monastic site		 St Benedict
____________________
Ibhar-cinntrachta;
Iubhair-cinntrachta;
Mainister-iubhair;
Monaster-de-viride-ligno;
Viride Lignum;
Nivory;
Nyvery 		[36][37][38]
54°10′25″N 6°20′17″W / 54.1735518°N 6.3381889°W
Newry — St Catherine's Priory * Dominican Friars
extant		 [39]
Newry Carmelite Monastery Carmelite nuns [40]

54°12′21″N 6°16′24″W / 54.205696°N 6.273299°W

Newtownards Priory Dominican Friars
founded 1244, purportedly by the Savage family[notes 1] or William de Burgo[notes 2] — evidence lacking for either;[notes 3]
dissolved February 1541, surrendered by the prior, Patrick O'Doran; granted to Sir Thomas Smith by Elizabeth I;
burned by O'Neill of Clandeboye 1572 to prevent use as a fort by the English;
reroofed by Lord Montgomery for use by Protestants		 St Colmcille
____________________
Baile-nua-na-airde;
Baile-nudh-airde;
Villanova;
Newton 		54°35′28″N 5°41′32″W / 54.591088°N 5.692157°W
Portaferry Monastery #
Derry Churches		 site thought to be now occupied by two small churches;
patron St. Cummain, Virgin, of Dal-Buinne, and of Derry, Parish of Ballyphillip		 [41][42]
54°23′40″N 5°31′06″W / 54.39433°N 5.51841°W
Raholp Monastery early monastic site, founded purportedly by St Patrick Raith-colpthai;
Cell-colptha;
Kilcholpa 		[43]
54°21′16″N 5°38′09″W / 54.3543717°N 5.6357108°W (approx)
Rathmullan Camera? Knights Hospitaller
possible camera or frankhouse, hospital or hospice, limb of Castleboys		 Rath-mullin;
Rath-molyn;
Ecclesia de Rathmolyn 		[44]
54°15′59″N 5°44′05″W / 54.266471°N 5.734604°W
Saul Monastery According to tradition in 432 the local chieftain Dichu gave St Patrick land. On this land was built a barn: thus Saul became the site of St Patrick's first church. Sabhull Padraig;
Sepulturam Patricii;
Baile itá Saball;
an Sabhall 		[45][46][47]
54°20′37″N 5°40′47″W / 54.34360°N 5.67960°W
St Andrews in Ards Priory Benedictine monks
alien house: dependent on Stogursey, Somerset and Lonlay Abbey, France;
founded after 1183 by John de Courcy;
became denizen:independent from 1356;
dissolved c.1543?; granted by James I, to the Protestant Bishop of Armagh		 Black Abbey;
Blackabbey;
Mainister Dubh 		[48]
54°31′27″N 5°31′25″W / 54.5241836°N 5.5235449°W (approx)
St Donard Oratory early monastic cell/oratory, founded c.506, by Domangart, son of Echaid Sliab-domhanghairt;
Sliab-domhanghairt-slange;
Salanga 		[49][50]
54°10′49″N 5°55′15″W / 54.180238°N 5.920898°W (approx)
Stokes Priory duplication of St Andrews in Ards,[notes 4] supra
Tamlacht-meenan Monastery early monastic site, founded before 627 Tamlachta Umhail [51]
54°18′16″N 6°18′19″W / 54.30438°N 6.30520°W (approx)
Tullyhoa Abbey ø order, foundation and founder unknown;
ruins purported to be the remains of an abbey
Tullylish Monastery # early monastic site, founded by St Bearnasga of Tulach-lis;
mistakenly identified as Tyllylease (County Cork);
remains excavated in the vicinity of the ruined parochial church (abandoned 1861, replaced by new church built to the west)		 Telach-liss [52]
54°22′29″N 6°20′06″W / 54.3745983°N 6.335044°W

Glossary


Map link to lists of monastic houses in Ireland by county

List of monastic houses in County Kerry List of monastic houses in County Antrim List of monastic houses in County Londonderry List of monastic houses in County Down List of monastic houses in County Armagh List of monastic houses in County Louth List of monastic houses in County Tyrone List of monastic houses in County Wexford List of monastic houses in County Dublin List of monastic houses in County Wicklow List of monastic houses in County Monaghan List of monastic houses in County Donegal List of monastic houses in County Fermanagh List of monastic houses in County Waterford List of monastic houses in County Cork List of monastic houses in County Limerick List of monastic houses in County Clare List of monastic houses in County Carlow List of monastic houses in County Kilkenny List of monastic houses in County Laois List of monastic houses in County Tipperary List of monastic houses in County Meath List of monastic houses in County Kildare List of monastic houses in County Cavan List of monastic houses in County Leitrim List of monastic houses in County Sligo List of monastic houses in County Roscommon List of monastic houses in County Galway List of monastic houses in County Longford List of monastic houses in County Westmeath List of monastic houses in County Offaly List of monastic houses in County Mayo List of monastic houses in County MayoA map of Ireland showing traditional county borders and names with Northern Ireland counties colored tan, all other counties colored green
Click on a county to go to the corresponding article

Notes

  1. ↑ Louis Augustin Alemand, Monasticum Hibernicum, translated and edited by John Stevens, 1722
  2. ↑ Tomas de Burgo, Hibernica Dominicana, 1762 edition
  3. ↑ A. Coleman, O.P., The Ancient Dominican Foundations of Ireland, 1902
  4. ↑ Stokes Priory — listed by Louis Augustin Alemand, Monasticum Hibernicum, translated and edited by John Stevens, 1722

References

  1. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=17589
  2. ↑ http://omniumsanctorumhiberniae.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/saint-loarn-of-bright-september-11.html
  3. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/MN5114ucmf_8#page/n19/mode/2up
  4. ↑ http://www.ards-council.gov.uk/getattachment/f6531bc7-925d-4c60-88ea-33ef3ff5c53f/The-Civil-Parish-to-Castleboy-and-the-Manor-of-Clo.aspx
  5. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/livesofirishsain09ohanuoft#page/26/mode/2up
  6. ↑ http://www.lisburn.com/books/dromore-diocese/parish-clonduff.html
  7. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=12014
  8. ↑ http://www.comberhistory.com/chs%20churches.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=35388
  10. ↑ The Francican Friars - Page 4
  11. ↑ Medieval Downpatrick - Page 3
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Mervyn Archdall (1873). Monasticon Hibernicum:. W. B. Kelly. pp. 260–.
  13. ↑ Church History « Dromore Cathedral
  14. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=10821
  15. ↑ http://www.lisburn.com/books/historical_society/volume2/volume2-3.html
  16. ↑ Dundrum Castle, County of Down
  17. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=12281
  18. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=12242
  19. ↑ A Calendar of the Saints of Ireland. 1864. pp. 333–.
  20. ↑ Cistercian Abbeys: ERENAGH
  21. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/ecclesiasticalan00reev#page/30/mode/2up
  22. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=12784
  23. ↑ http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/inch_abbey_information_for_teachers_oct_09.pdf
  24. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=15072
  25. ↑ http://omniumsanctorumhiberniae.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/saint-bronagh-of-kilbroney-april-2.html
  26. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=17613
  27. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=12242
  28. ↑ Phillips. James. J. (1874). St. Mary's of Grey-Abbey, County Down, Ireland, as Existing in the Year A.D. 1874: A Series of Measured and Sketch Drawings, Details, &c., of this Ancient Cistercian Monastery, with Historical and Descriptive Letterpress. The Author.
  29. ↑ A Calendar of the Saints of Ireland. 1864. pp. 333–.
  30. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=17331
  31. ↑ A Calendar of the Saints of Ireland. 1864. pp. 333–.
  32. ↑ Celtica. Inst. 1999.
  33. ↑ Maghera Irish Round Tower
  34. ↑ http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/hamiltonmagheralin.html
  35. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/MN5114ucmf_8#page/n19/mode/2up
  36. ↑ http://www.jstor.org/action/addCitationAlert?redirectUri=/stable/30002756?trackCitation=true&doi=10.2307/30002756
  37. ↑ Bagenal's Castle - McCann's Bakery
  38. ↑ Cistercians Abbeys: NEWRY
  39. ↑ Dominicans Ireland - St Catherine’s Priory, Newry
  40. ↑
  41. ↑ http://rmchapple.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/derry-churches-co-down.html
  42. ↑ http://omniumsanctorumhiberniae.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/saint-cummain-of-dal-buinne-may-29.html
  43. ↑ https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/CentreforArchaeologicalFieldworkCAF/PDFFileStore/Filetoupload,180978,en.pdf
  44. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=17671
  45. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=12654
  46. ↑ http://www.saulandballeeparish.com/st-patricks-church/
  47. ↑ http://www.historyfromheadstones.com/index.php?displaygraveyardinfo&graveyard_name=Saul
  48. ↑ JSTOR: The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Sixth Series, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Dec. 31, 1921), pp.166-178
  49. ↑ https://www.academia.edu/1601622/_The_Archaeology_of_Slieve_Donard_Co._Down_A_Cultural_Biography_of_Ulster_s_Highest_Mountain_Down_County_Museum_2012
  50. ↑ http://omniumsanctorumhiberniae.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/saint-donard-of-maghera-march-24.html
  51. ↑ William REEVES. Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. pp. 113–.
  52. ↑ JSTOR: Ulster Journal of Archaeology, Third Series, Vol. 50 (1987), pp. 55-121

See also