List of monastic houses in County Kerry

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
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
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
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
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
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
Bentee Mount Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites		(approx)
Brandon Mountain Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites, purportedly founded by St Brendan of Clonfert; possibly continuing after 1111		(approx)
Caherbarbagh Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites		(approx)
Carrig Island Monastery, ø Arghavallen parish		possible early monastic site, "Abbey (in ruins)"
Church Island Monastery, Valencia Harbour, Lough Kay			Cherich-inis?; Lough Kay
Church Island Monastery, Lough Currane		early monastic site, Anchorites; founded by Finan Cam	Lough Curane
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
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
Gallarus Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites	Gall-ros
Illaunloughan Monastery		early monastic site, remains of round tower
Illauntannig Island Monastery, Maghree Islands		early monastic site, Gaelic monks; founded 6th century by St Seanach
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
Inishtooskert Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites	St Brendan
Inishvickillane Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites	St Brendan ____________________ Inis-mic-cilleain
Keeldarragh Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites
Kerry Preceptory, ~ Tralee?		Knights Hospitaller founded before 1212; dissolution unknown
Kilcolman Abbey, Milltown		early monastic site	Killagh; Killaha
Kildreelig Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites
Kildreenagh Monastery in Loher		early monastic site, Anchorites		(approx)
Kildrenagh Monastery in Valencia		early monastic site, Anchorites		(approx)
Killabuonia Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites founded 6th century by Buonia (Beoanigh)
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)
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
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
Killobarnaun Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites	Killavarnaun
Killoe Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites		(approx)
Killogrone Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites
Kilmalkedar Monastery		early monastic site, probably continuing after 1111	Cell-maeilchetair
Kilrellig Monastery, Bolus Head
Kilpeacon Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites	Kilpeacan	(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
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
Oriel Monastery		early monastic site	Monaster-ni-Oriel; Abbey Oriel
Rathmore		Cistercian monks founded 1861; temporary refuge for monks evicted from Melleray, France
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
Rattoo Monastery, nr Ballyduff		early monastic site - founded 6th century by Bishop Lugaid/Lugach	Rath-muighe-tuaiscirt - "fort/rath of the northern plain".
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	br />
Riasc Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites founded 6th century; probably continuing after 1111	Reask
St Manchan's Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites founded by St Manchan	Teampall Geal
Scarriff Monastery		early monastic site, Anchorites	Sgairbh	(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
Temple Cashel Monastery		early monastic site, Gaelic nuns
Termons Monastery		early monastic site
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

The following locaction in County Kerry lacks monastic connection:

• Ardfert Abbey: Georgian mansion, home of the Crosbie family, destroyed by IRA bomb 1922

Glossary

Orders: Augustinian Augustinian Canons Regular / Austin Canons / Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) - Arrouasian / (Arroasian) - Victorine - Holy Sepulchre Austin Friars (Augustinian Friars) Augustinian Recollects Benedictine / Order of St Benedict (O.S.B.) Bonshommes Bridgettine / Briggittine Carmelites Carmelites (White Friars) Carthusians Cistercian Cluniac Crutched Friars / (Crouched Friars / Crossed Friars / Fratres Cruciferi / Brethren of the Holy Cross) Culdee Dominican (Black Friars) / Ordinis Praedicatorum (Order of Preachers) (O.P.) / Friars Preachers Franciscan (Grey Friars) Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (The Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.) / Ordo Fratrum Minorum) Capuchin (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin) Franciscan Observants Franciscan, Third Order Regular Franciscan Recollects Minoresses (Poor Clares) Friars of the Order of Blessed Mary (Friars of St Mary / Fratres Beatae Mariae) Friars of Penitence of Jesus Christ (Friars of the Sack) Gilbertine Grandmontine Military Orders Knights Hospitaller / Hospitallers / Order of Hospitallers / Knights of Saint John / Order of Saint John Order of the Holy Sepulchre Knights Templar / Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon / Order of the Temple / Templars Order of Saint Lazarus

St. Lazarus Hospitallers Premonstratensian Savignac Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Sisters of St John of Jerusalem Tironensian Trappist Trinitarian (Maturines) Valliscaulian General terms: Abbots / Abbesses / Abbey Alien House Anchorites Camera (pl. Cameræ) Canons Canons Regular cell Commandery Double monastery Friars / Friary Friars Eremites / anchorites Hermits Mendicants Monks Nuns / Nunnery Preceptor / Preceptory Priors / Prioresses / Priory Secular canons

Map link to lists of monastic houses in Ireland by county

Click on a county to go to the corresponding article

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See also

• List of monastic houses in Ireland