List of monastic houses in County Londonderry

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
Aghadowey Monastery # early monastic site;
hospital of St Gowry 1603		 Achad-dubthaigh;
Achedoffey 		[1][2]
55°01′45″N 6°39′27″W / 55.02928°N 6.65749°W
Aghanloo Monastery early monastic site;
under erenaghs until 16th century		 Ath-luga;
Ath-longe;
Allowa 		[3][4][5]
55°05′37″N 6°56′14″W / 55.093742°N 6.93718°W
Agivey Monastery early monastic site; purportedly founded 7th century by St Guar of Aghadowey;
Cistercian monks
grange of Macosquin		 Augheve;
Athgeybi 		[6][7][8]
55°02′22″N 6°35′16″W / 55.03937°N 6.58776°W
Ballymagrorty Monastery (Derry Diocese) early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Colmcille Baile-meg-robhartaig;
Baile-megrabhartaigh 		55°05′41″N 6°39′49″W / 55.0946007°N 6.6635672°W
Ballynascreen Monastery early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Colmcille Scrin-coluim-cille [9][10]
54°45′33″N 6°52′00″W / 54.75914°N 6.86654°W
Banagher Monastery early monastic site, traditionally founded 11th century? by St Muriedbach O'Heney;
under erenaghs until early 17th century		 Bennchor;
Bangoria 		[11][12]
54°53′19″N 6°58′23″W / 54.8884889°N 6.9730569°W
Bovevagh Monastery early monastic site, purportedly founded 575 by St Colmcille;
oratory burned 1100;
under erenaghs until 17th century		 Both-mheidhbhe;
Both-medhbha 		[13][14]
54°57′33″N 6°56′44″W / 54.9591207°N 6.9455911°W
Camus Monastery early monastic site, founded before c.580;
under erenaghs until 16th/17th century		 Camas;
Cambos;
Camsa 		[15][16]
55°06′02″N 6°38′06″W / 55.10056°N 6.63513°W
Church Island Monastery, Lough Beg early monastic site;
plundered by Ulidians 1129;
under erenaghs until early 17th century		 St Mochonna (possibly St Mochonna of Killyman)
____________________
Inistaiti;
InisTeda;
Ballyscullion;
Inish Taoide 		[17]
54°47′24″N 6°29′05″W / 54.7899946°N 6.4847811°W
Coleraine Monastery
St Patrick's		 early monastic site, founded 5th century by St Patrick;
burned 731;
suffered destruction 1171 and 1177; 		Cuil Raithin;
Cul-rathain;
Colran;
Bannin; 		[18]
55°07′55″N 6°40′07″W / 55.13202°N 6.66850°W
Coleraine Monastery
St Carbreus		 early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Carbreus;
dismantled in 1213, Drumtarsey castle erected on site 		Cuil Raithin;
Abbey of the Bann 		[19][20]
55°08′04″N 6°40′43″W / 55.13432°N 6.67859°W (approx)
Coleraine Friary Dominican Friars
founded 1244;
Dominican Friars, Regular Observant
reformed 1484;
dissolved 1543		 St Mary [21][22]
55°07′49″N 6°40′21″W / 55.13040°N 6.67237°W (approx)
Coleraine
Killowen 		founded 1248 Drumtarsy;
Cill Eoghain - Owen's church;
Cill-Eogain - St John's Church 		[20][23][24] 55°07′42″N 6°40′35″W / 55.12834°N 6.67638°W (approx)
Cumber Monastery early monastic site, traditionally founded 5th century by St Patrick; under secular erenaghs until early 17th century Combior;
Camer;
Commyr 		[25][26]
54°54′20″N 7°09′42″W / 54.905604°N 7.161785°W
Derry Monastery ~ early monastic site, traditionally founded c.546 by St Colmcille, but probably c.590 by Fiachra mac Ciárain mac Ainmerech mac Sétna;
St Augustine's C.I. Church or St Columb's Church are cited as alternative possible locations of the monastery		 Daire-calgach;
Doire-Choluim-Chille;
Daire Duib-recles;
Cella Nigra 		[27]
54°59′41″N 7°19′26″W / 54.9947366°N 7.3239221°W possible
or
54°59′34″N 7°19′43″W / 54.9929°N 7.3285°W possible
Derry Abbey Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian — affiliated to SS Peter & Paul, Armagh;
founded c.1233?;
reportedly in very poor state of repair by 1411, due to warfare and adversity;
churches desecrated and community expelled 1566; under occupation by English troops under Colonel Edward Randolph;
restored? canons possibly briefly returned;
dissolved 1576?; reoccupied by the English;
Augustinian Friars
refounded c.1643		 Cella Nigra
Derry Priory Cistercian nuns
founded 1218;
dissolved 1512
Derry Franciscan Priory purported foundation of Franciscan Friars;
(in 1609 the commissioners erroneously took the ruins of the Blackfriars house (see immediately below) to be Franciscan)
Derry — St Dominic's Priory spurious accounts of earlier Dominican foundation;
Dominican Friars
founded 1274;
dissolved 1576;
briefly restored?		 St Dominic
Desertmartin Monastery early monastic site, apparently founded by a member of the O'Lynn family (suggested by the name Mainister O'Fhloinn);
erenaghs until 16th century		 Mainister O'Fhloinn;
Moneysterlin 		[28][29][30]
54°46′12″N 6°40′15″W / 54.76996°N 6.67091°W
Desertoghill Monastery early monastic site, purportedly founded by St Colmcille;
erenaghs until 16th century		 Disert-ui-tuathghaill;
Desert-O'Tuohill 		[31][32][33]
54°58′23″N 6°40′18″W / 54.97308°N 6.67169°W
Donnybrewer Monastery early monastic site Domnach-dala;
Domnach-dola 		55°02′46″N 7°13′44″W / 55.0461037°N 7.2287786°W (approx)
Drumachose Abbey early monastic site, patronised 6th century by St Cainnech Druimcoos;
Dirumcoos;
Dronagh;
Drungrosa;
Roa 		[34][35][36]
55°03′03″N 6°54′59″W / 55.05086°N 6.91641°W
Dunboe Monastery early monastic site, founded by St Adamnan;
erenaghs until 16th century		 Dun-bo;
~co Dun-mbó i n-Dal riatai;
Duna-uó, a tempull;
Durrbo, par. ecclesie de 		[37][38][39][40]
55°09′36″N 6°48′40″W / 55.160055°N 6.811075°W
Duncrun Monastery early monastic site, founded by St Patrick Dun-cruithne 55°08′48″N 6°56′01″W / 55.1466853°N 6.9335211°W (approx)
Dungiven Monastery early monastic site, founded 7th century, by St Naechtain? Dun-geimin;
Dun-giobhin;
Dun-gevin 		[41]
54°55′02″N 6°55′18″W / 54.917333°N 6.9216549°W
Dungiven Priory Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian?
founded after 1140? (after 1138?), purportedly by the O'Cahan family;
dissolved before 1603;
round tower incorporated into church, but collapsed c.1784		 St Mary
Errigal Monastery early monastic site, purportedly founded 6th century by St Colmcille;
destroyed by Norsemen 9th century;
erenaghs until 16th/17th century		 Airecal-Adamnan;
Arragel;
Temple Erigall;
Airecuil, Cainnech 		[42][43][44]
54°58′32″N 6°44′03″W / 54.97550°N 6.73408°W (approx)
Faughanvale Monastery early monastic site, erenaghs until 16th century St Canice (St Conici)
____________________
Nuachongbail;
Fochwayll;
Killeitra;
Tircaerthian 		[45][46][47]
55°01′57″N 7°05′42″W / 55.032436°N 7.094947°W
Kilcronaghan Monastery early monastic site, patronised by St Cruithnechan;
erenaghs until early 17th century		 Cell-cruithneachain [48][49]
54°47′40″N 6°44′00″W / 54.79438°N 6.73333°W
Killelagh Monastery erroneously given as County Derry in Gwynn & Hadcock index — actually County Donegal
Kilrea Monastery early monastic site; erenagh land until 1609 Cell-reagh [50]
54°56′00″N 6°34′42″W / 54.93341°N 6.57827°W
Lan More Friary ~ Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
foundation unknown;
dissolution unknown;
possibly County Derry or County Antrim		 Landmore? 55°02′05″N 6°36′34″W / 55.0347919°N 6.6093536°W
Lissan Monastery early monastic site, founded before 744 Lessan;
~Lessain episcopi;
~Lesan i Sliabh Callann,ó;
~o Lesan i Sliabh Callan 		[51]
54°41′07″N 6°46′05″W / 54.685226°N 6.7681474°W (approx)
Macosquin Abbey + Cistercian monks — from Morimond, France
founded 1218;
dissolved before 1600; granted to the London Companies (Merchant Taylors) authorities for the plantation of Derry;
house named 'Glebe House' built on site of claustral buildings c.1770;
scant remains of monastic church incorporated into St Mary's C.I. parish church, built on site		 Clarus Fons;
Magoscain;
Moycoscain 		[52]
55°05′59″N 6°42′26″W / 55.0997568°N 6.7070842°W
Maghera Monastery + early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Lurach;
plundeded by the Norsemen 832;
church burnt 1135;
diocesan cathedral
see transferred from Ardstraw c.1152;
see transferred to Derry 1254		 Machaire-ratha-luraig;
Rath-Luraig;
Rath-lure 		[53][54]
54°50′32″N 6°40′24″W / 54.84213°N 6.673466°W
Magilligan Monastery early monastic site, erenagh land until early 17th century Aird-megiollagain;
Ardia;
Scrin-i-nArdia;
Ballynascreen-ardia;
Tamlachta-ard;
Tamlaght-ard;
The Shrine of St Columb 		55°07′44″N 6°56′33″W / 55.1289776°N 6.9424186°W (approx)
Tamlaght Finlagan Monastery early monastic site, founded 585 by St Fionn-logha;
erenaghs until early 17th century;
site occupied by remains of a church destroyed 1641		 Tamlacht-fionloga;
Templefinlagan;
Ballykelly 		[55]
55°02′26″N 6°58′50″W / 55.0404831°N 6.9806735°W
Tamlaght O'Crilly Monastery early monastic site; erenaghs until early 17th century Ta, lachta-mac-ninaich [56][57]
54°53′37″N 6°34′59″W / 54.89365°N 6.58304°W
Termoneeny Monastery early monastic site; erenaghs until early 17th century ~in Enga;
Termon-any
Eanegea 		[58][59]
54°50′00″N 6°40′02″W / 54.83334°N 6.66735°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

    References

    1. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19381
    2. ↑ http://www.libraryireland.com/topog/A/Aghadowy-Coleraine-Londonderry.php
    3. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=365
    4. ↑ http://www.limavadyancestry.com/records/graveyards-and-gravestone-inscriptions/graveyards-in-limavady-borough-which-opened-prior-to-the-end-of-1980/
    5. ↑ Samuel Lewis (1837). A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Lewis. pp. 17–.
    6. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=1856
    7. ↑ http://www.libraryireland.com/topog/A/Agivey-Coleraine-Londonderry.php
    8. ↑ http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,690284,922125,6,7
    9. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19079
    10. ↑ http://irishantiquities.bravehost.com/derry/ballynascreen/ballynascreen.html
    11. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=955
    12. ↑ http://www.libraryireland.com/articles/BanagherDPJ1-48/
    13. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=709
    14. ↑ http://roevalley.com/newsbrowser/historical/bovevagh.htm
    15. ↑ The Irish Ecclesiastical Record. Browne and Nolan. 1872. pp. 142–.
    16. ↑ http://www.colmcille.org/sperrins/5-04
    17. ↑ http://authors.library.caltech.edu/25059/2/mstory/church.htm
    18. ↑ http://www.stpats.co.uk/history.html
    19. ↑ William Cobbett. List of abbeys, priories, nunneries, hospitals, and other religious foundations in England and Wales and in Ireland: confiscated, seized on, or alienated, by the Protestant "Reformation" sovereigns and Parliaments.
    20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 http://ecohcoy.tripod.com/page2.htm
    21. ↑ http://www.niarchive.org/Coleraine/Exhibitions_Collections.aspx?lc=1&id=92875da6-1de8-4fb5-931e-858d5ca0baa4&currentpage=3
    22. ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/feargal/4991281024/
    23. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19232
    24. ↑ Samuel Lewis (1849). A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland: Comprising the Several Counties; Cities; Boroughs; Corporate, Market, and Post Towns; Parishes and Principal Villages; with Historical and Statistical Descriptions: Embellished with Engravings of the Arms of the Cities, Bishoprics, Corporate Towns, and Boroughs; and of the Seals of the Several Municipal Corporations. S. Lewis and Company. pp. 119–.
    25. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19144
    26. ↑ http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/DerryCitySite/files/de/def869ba-72ff-41af-a158-a7a1b7b5a8d3.pdf
    27. ↑ Monastic Derry
    28. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=5288
    29. ↑ http://www.discovereverafter.com/graveyards/26/desertmartin-old
    30. ↑ http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,685411,892074,5,7
    31. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19165
    32. ↑ http://www.historyfromheadstones.com/index.php?id=589
    33. ↑ Adamnanus (de Iona) (1874). Life of Saint Columba, Founder of Hy. Edmonston and Douglas. pp. 59–.
    34. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=418
    35. ↑ http://roevalley.com/newsbrowser/historical/drumachose.htm
    36. ↑ http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,669241,923083,6,7
    37. ↑ http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/CentreforArchaeologicalFieldworkCAF/PDFFileStore/Filetoupload,458510,en.pdf
    38. ↑ Memoir of the City and North Western Liberties of Londonderry - Parish of Templemore. Hodges. 1837. pp. 56–.
    39. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=99
    40. ↑ Mervyn Archdall (1873). Monasticon Hibernicum:. W. B. Kelly. pp. 211–.
    41. ↑ Priory at Dungiven
    42. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=2235
    43. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19203
    44. ↑ http://www.walkni.com/walks/144/errigal-glen-trail/
    45. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=506
    46. ↑ http://irishantiquities.bravehost.com/derry/faughanvale/faughanvale.html
    47. ↑ http://www.limavadyancestry.com/records/graveyards-and-gravestone-inscriptions/graveyards-in-limavady-borough-which-opened-prior-to-the-end-of-1980/
    48. ↑ http://www.kilcronaghan.co.uk/4-66/rectory-history/Kilcronaghan-parish-%28part-1%29
    49. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19219
    50. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=1759
    51. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19241
    52. ↑ Cistercian Abbeys: MACOSQUIN
    53. ↑ http://www.jstor.org/stable/20566091
    54. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=2063
    55. ↑ http://roevalley.com/newsbrowser/historical/tamlaght.htm
    56. ↑ http://www.greenlough.com/our-parish/our-parish-history/
    57. ↑ http://www.magheragenealogy.org/index.php/regions/70-tamlaght-ocrilly/89-tamlaght-ocrilly-historical-descriptions.html
    58. ↑ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19309
    59. ↑ Publications. 1850. pp. 81–.

    See also