List of monastic houses in County Limerick

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
Abbeyfeale Abbey		Cistercian monks founded 1188 by Brian O'Brien; dissolved c.1209; cell dependent on Monasteranenagh c.1209; dissolved c.1350?; probably residential grange leased to laymen; possibly obtained by Carmelite Friars (v. Felense in Munster, infra)	Feale; Monaster-na-Feile; Felense?
Abington Abbey		Cistercian monks — from Arklow (community founded at Wyresdale, Lancashire c.1196 from Furness, transferred to Arklow before 1204) transferred here 1205, land granted by Theobald Walter, Butler of Ireland; dissolved 1540; secular 1540; restored — recolonized from Furness/Savigny; granted to Walter Aphoell by Edward VI, confirmed by Queen Mary 1553; dissolved after 1557; lease passed to Piers (Peter) Walshe 1562	St Mary ____________________ Mainister-uaithne; Owney; Unquchin; Vetinex; Vogney; Woney; Wotheney; Huena
Adare Friary +		Augustinian Friars founded before 1316 by John Fitz Thomas Fitzgerald; Observant Augustinian Friars 1472; dissolved 1539-40; friars probably still in occupation until 1559; dissolved c.1581?; leased to John Gold and others before 1583; granted to Sir Henry Wallop 1595; conventual church now in use as C.I. parish church	Black Abbey
Adare Friary, (Franciscan)		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1464 by Thomas Fitz Gerald, Earl of Kildare and his wife Johanna; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1466; dissolved 1539-40; apparently unoccupied by 1559; restored by 1579; expelled c.1581 during the Desmond war; granted to Sir Henry Wallop 1595; (re-established at a new location in Adare 1633) now in the grounds of Adare Manor, within a golf course, with public access	The church of Saint Michael Archangel of the Friars Minor ____________________ Athdara; Atdare
Adare Trinitarian Monastery		Trinitarian Friars founded c.1230 (before 1226?); dissolved after 1539? (officially February 1539); granted to Sir Henry Wallop 1595; ruinous church repaired by the Earl of Dunraven 1811; in use as R.C. church	St James; The Holy Trinity ____________________ White Abbey
Adare Dominican Friary ≈	Dominican Friars — erroneous reference to Trinitarian Friary
Adare Preceptory		Knights Hospitaller (listed c.1658)
Any Friary		purported Augustinian Friars founded during the reign of Edward II, by John, son of Robert and others;	Knockainy; Ballynamona?
Ardaneer Priory		Benedictine monks founded c.1202, land and church granted by William de Burgo to Richard, monk of Glastonbury; dependent on Glastonbury; dissolved 1205?	St Mary ____________________ ?Ardimur; Ardinuir; Oculnid
Ardpatrick Monastery		early monastic site, purportedly founded 5th century by St Patrick; monastic lands recorded as late as 1597	Ardpatricke; Ard-Padraig
Askeaton Friary		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1389?, or before 1400) by Gearóid Iarla (Gerald), 4th Earl of Desmond, or 1420 by James Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond; Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1497; reformed 1513; dissolved 1575; (NM)	Athskettin; Easa-geibhteine; Es-geibhteine; Inis-geibhthine; Easa-gebryny
Askeaton Commandery		Knights Templar founded 1298, attached to the parochial church, now the C.I. parish church of St Mary
Ballinegaul Friary		early monastic site Dominican Friars founded 1296, rebuilt by the Geraldines; dependent on Kilmallock; granted to Richard Lawless 1551-2; dissolved before 1586, ruinous by 1586; listed as Carmelite 1597 (see immediately below)	Monaster-na-ngall; Burgus Anglorum; Braber duff (Black friars); Ballinegall	(approx)
Ballinegaul White Friary		Carmelite Friars former Dominican house (see immediately above) listed as White Friars 1597	Monaster-na-ngall; Burgus Anglorum
Ballingarry Abbey		'abbey', unknown order and foundation Franciscan Friars?
Ballingarry Nunnery ~		supposed nuns — order and foundation unknown	dedication unknown
Ballintubber Monastery ≈		purported Carmelite Friars or Knights Templar granted to Robert Browne possible reference to Rochestown Dominican Friary
Ballybrood Friary		Franciscan Friars — possible refuge 17th century; purportedly all slaughtered by Oliver Cromwell
Ballycahane Preceptory?		Knights Templar church confirmed to the Knights Hospitaller 1212 — no record of preceptory	Cathan
Ballynagallagh Priory		Augustinian nuns convent founded 1283 by a FitzGibbon; land here in possession of Llanthony Priory 1360; dissolved before 1548; granted to Edmund Sexton c.1548; some confusion with St Catherine de O'Conyl;	Monaster-nagalliaghduff; Monaster-necallowduffe; Monaster-nicalliagh	(approx)
Ballyorgan Friary ¤≈	Trinitarian — erroneous reference to Ballinegaul Dominican Friary, supra		Baile-aragain
Ballyorgan Friary		early monastic site, purportedly founded 6th century by St Finnian
Bruree Preceptory?		Knights Templar castle purportedly built 12th century by the order; no record of a preceptory	Brugh-righ
Carrigogunnell Preceptory?		Knights Templar	Carraic-O-gCoinneal
Castleconnell Friary?		unknown order purported Augustinian Friars founded c.1300; "remains of a monastery"	Caislen-ui-chonaing; Castle-Connell in Munster	(approx)
Castletown-mac-eneiry Monastery		remains of a purported large monastery, doubtful	Roque (Castletown, Corcomohide parish)
Clarina Monastery		Autustinian Canons Regular nuns	Cluain-Credhil; Killeedy?
Cloch-na-monach Abbey		Cistercian monks supposed abbey remains; grange of Monasteranenagh	Cloghnamanagh
Cloncagh Monastery		early monsastic site, founded before 625 by St Maedoc of Ferns
Clonkeen Monastery		early monsastic site, founded 6th/7th century by St Mo-Diomog
Doon Monastery		early monsastic site, founded 6th century (in existence in the time of St Colmcille)	Dunbleschiae
Dysert Monastery, Carrigeen		early monastic site, founded by a St Oengus (purportedly the Culdee)	Disert-aengusa
Felense Friary ~≈?		Carmelite Friars possibly located in County Limerick, possibly former site of Abbeyfeale Cistercians, supra, otherwise county and location unknown	Felense in Munster; Abbeyfeale?
Friarstown Friary		Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded after 1450? (or 13th century by the Clan-Gibbons); dissolved 1544; possibly vacant by 1450; held in rebellion by Gerald Baluff f. Philip until after 1590?	St Francis de Ballynebrahrair ____________________ Ballynabrahrair; Baile-ne-braher; Bally-ne-braher; Clochnamanach Abbey
Galbally Friary	village location — friary located across the county border: see Moor Abbey, List of monastic houses in County Tipperary
Glenstal Abbey *		Benedictine monks; extant; mansion in monastic use, also serving as a school
Hospital Preceptory		Knights Hospitaller founded before 1215 (during the reign of King John) by Geoffrey de Mariscis, the Knights being granted royal privileges 1215; dissolved before 1540; farmed out by Pr Rawson; granted to Sir Valentine Browne by Queen Elizabeth; Kenmare Castle built on site by Browne; leased before 1603; granted to Thomas Brown (ancestor of the Earls of Kenmare) 1604	The Preceptory of Saint John the Baptist, Any ____________________ Ane; Any; Hospital of Any; Anye
Hyde Ita Nunnery?		Augustinian Canons Regular nuns, apparently Cell Ita (v. Killedy)	Hydh Ita; (probably Cell Ita, properly Killeedy)?
Kellis Priory	properly Kells, County Kilkenny
Killeedy Monastery		early monastic site, monks and nuns founded c.546 by St Ita; possibly not continuing after the 10th century	Cell-ite; Cluain-chredail; Killita
Kilmacanearla Abbey, Ballingarry parish		"Abbey (in ruins)"
Kilmallock Friary		Dominican Friars founded 1291, land purchased from John Bluet, burgess, with the consent of Edward I; dissolved 1541; leased to James FitzJohn, Earl of Desmond 1548; passed to the Crown and the commonality of Kilmallock 1569-70; friars probably expelled 1571 when the town was sacked; granted to Nicholas Miagh, sovereign of Kilmallock, and to the brethren and community 1594; (NM)	Flacispaghe
Kilmallock Monastery		early monastic site, founded early half of the 7th century by St Mochelloch; plundered 1015	Cell-mochelloc; Cell-dacheallog; Killochy
Kilmallock Monastery		purported Augustinian Canons Regular
Kilmallock Monastery		purported Augustinian Friars, in which case founded after 1630
Kilpeacon Monastery		early monastic site, founded before 690 by St Becan (Mo-Becoc)	Cluain-ard-Mobecoc	(approx)
Kilrath Monastery		early monastic site, County Limerick?	Cella Rath
Kilsane Nunnery ≈¤	nuns, (misreading of source)		properly St Catherine de O'Conyl, infra
Kilshane Abbey		Cistercian monks — from Corcomroe (County Clare) daughter of Corcomroe; founded 1198 by Donnchad Cairbreach O'Brien, King of Limerick; dissolved c.1200, united to Monasteranenagh	Cell-scanaig; Kil-son; Kil-sonna; Ballingarry; Garra
Kilshane Friary		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded before 1426? by Fitzgerald, Lord of Clenlis dissolved after 1584
Kilteely Monastery		early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Patrick	Cell-tidil; Kilteidhill
Kilteely Commandery		Knights Templar chapel, purported commandery founded 1291	Kildromin Church
King's Island	Franciscan Friars, (misreading of source)		Island near Limerick properly Limerick Franciscan Friars, infra
Knockainy Monastery ø~		purported early monastic site — dubious unknown order, period or foundation	Cnoc-aine;; Aine-cliath; cf Any; Hospital of Any
Kynnethin Monastery ø≈		purported Augustinian Canons Regular — possible reference to Keynsham, Somerset, England, which had property in County Limerick	Kynnythin
Lehense Monastery ≈		Carmelite Friars — possible duplication of reference to Barvegalense (Milltown)	possibly Barvegalense (Milltown)
Limerick Crutched Friars Priory Hospital		Crutched Friars founded before 1216 (during the reign of King John) by Simon Minor; dissolved 1537; passed to Augustinian Friars 1632 (see immediately below)	St Mary and St Edmund, King, and the Holy Cross
Limerick Monastery of the Holy Cross		Augustinian Friars founded 1632, previously Crutched Friars (see immediately above)	St Mary and St Edward
Limerick Blackfriars		Dominican Friars founded 1227 by Donogh Carbreach O'Brien, King of Thomond, buried here; (Edward I claimed his own ancestors were the founders); Dominican Friars, Regular Observant reformed 1504; dissolved 1543; granted to James, Earl of Desmond, who restored the friars; forfeited to the Crown 1569-72; granted to Robert Ansley 1589; held by James Gould until his death 1600; (subsequent history O'Heyne, Burgo and Coleman)	St Saviour
Limerick Franciscan Friars		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded 1267 (during the reign of Henry III) by the de Burgo family (Thomas de Burgo or William de Burgo); Observant Franciscan Friars reformed 1534; dissolved 1534; granted to Edmund Sexton; restored 1540-8; friars expelled by the Protestants 1548; ruinous, owned by Stephen Sexton prior to his death in 1595; abandoned until 1615
Limerick Priory		Augustinian nuns founded 1171? by Donal O'Brien, King of Limerick; dependent on Killone c.1189; dissolved 1541; farmed out by Edmund Sexton 1548	St Peter ____________________ probably Monaster ne Callow Duffe (Black Abbey)
Limerick Monaster ne Callow Duffe ø~		nuns — (probable misinterpretation)	probably Limerick Priory
Limerick Preceptory? ø		Knights Templar or Knights Hospitaller probable Frank House	Luimneach; Lumniac; Limbricen
Lough Gur, ø near Loghgir		purported Franciscan Friars	probably Friarstown (Ballynabrahrair)
Luddenbeg Monastery ø		purported monastery — remains appear to be a parochial church
Milltown Friary		Carmelite Friars founded 1459-60, land granted to Carmelites Donald Ygormellay and William de Burgo by James Deles, donsel of Emly Diocese, and Kennedy Macbriayn and his brother Torieleus, to build a monastery; dissolved before 1544; restored also mistakenly given as Carthusian	Ballinegall; Barvegalense; Ballywullan; Villa Mollendini; Molingar
Monasteranenagh Abbey		Cistercian monks — from Mellifont founded 1148 (1148/51) by Turlough O'Brien, King of Thomond, confirmed by King John; dissolved 1540; granted to Sir Osborne Echingham 1543; monks apparently continued to occupy until 1579; captured by the English 3 April 1580, during the Desmond rebellion and the monks massacred; (NM)	Monaster-an-Aonagh; Eanach; Monaster-na-maighe; Maigue; Maio; Manister; Nenagh; Nenay
St. Katherine's Abbey, Monisternagalliaghduff, nr. Shanagolden		Augustinian nuns founded 1298; dissolved 1541
Mungret Abbey		early monastic site, founded before 551 by St Nessan the Deacon; plundered on several occasions 9th-12th century; possible Augustinian Canons Regular for a time, 12th century — documentary evidence lacking; claimed episcopal status 1152 — deemed too close to the see at Limerick to substantiate the claim; (NM)	Mungairit; Moungairid
Newcastle Camera ø		Knights Templar founded 1184, castle of the earls of Desmond built by the Templars, who were stationed here; dissolved before 1308?	Caislen-nua
Old Kildimo Monastery ~		early monastic site, purportedly founded prior to arrival of St Patrick in Munster, by Dimma	Cell-diomma; Kildimma
Old Kildimo Preceptory		Knights Templar Court Castle founded by the Templars		(approx)
Rathkeale Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian — possibly from Rattoo purportedly founded c.1210? by Gilbert Harvey; dissolved 1542; restored, small community possibly in occupation until the Desmond rebellion, c.1581; granted to Sir Henry Wallop c.1594-5	The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Rathkeale ____________________ Rathkeale Abbey; Ragelli; Ragille; Ragkely; Rakil; Rathgial
Rathkeale Friary ø	Franciscan Friars — no such establishment here
Rochestown Friary		Dominican Friars founded ?; dependent on Limerick?; dissolved c.1544; granted to Robert Browne	Friarstown Friary, Rocheston; Rocheston; Ballyniwillin; Ballywilliam; Bailenambratharbeg; Mainistirnambratharbeg
St. Katherine's Abbey, Monisternagalliaghduff, near Shanagolden		Augustinian nuns founded before 1261; dissolved before 1567; granted to Sir Warham St Leger 1567; sometime owned by Sir John Desmond leased to James Gold 1583; granted to Sir Hugh Wallop 1594	St Catherine ____________________ St Catherine de O'Conyl Priory; Monasternecallow-duffe; Monasternagalliaghduff; Ballanegillagh

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

2

See also

• List of monastic houses in Ireland