Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland

Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland is a link page for any abbey

Abbey

An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...

, priory

Priory

A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...

, friary or other religious house in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

Abbreviations and Key

The sites listed are ruins unless indicated thus:-
*	indicates current monastic function
+	indicates current non-monastic ecclesiastic function
^	indicates current non-ecclesiastic function
#	indicates no identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains
~	indicates exact site of monastic foundation unknown

Trusteeship denoted as follows:-
NM	National Monument

style="white-space:nowrap;" | Other abbreviations
trns	transferred
rmv	removed
c.	circa (about)
ante	before
post	after

County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...

Foundation	Communities/provenance	Formal Name/Image
Bonamargy Friary Bonamargy Friary Bonamargy Friary is situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, off the Cushendall Road on the approach to Ballycastle. The name Bonamargy means ‘foot of the Margy River’, the river formed by the joining of the Cary River and Shesk Rivers.... , Ballycastle Ballycastle, County Antrim Ballycastle is a small town in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its population was 5,089 people in the 2001 Census. It is the seat and main settlement of Moyle District Council.... ,	Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... c1500, burned 1584(1589), repaired & re-occupied 1626-1642, restored 1931 (NM National monument A National monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of national importance such as a war or the country's founding. The term may also refer to a specific monument status, such as a National Heritage Site, which most national monuments are by reason of their cultural... )
Carrickfergus Abbey#	Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... 1248, Observant-Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... 1497-suppression Suppression The term suppression may refer to:* Oppression, the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner, also an act or instance of oppressing... , used as a munitions store, rebuilt as Joymont House, 1618
Glenarm Friary	Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... , site now occupied by St. Patrick's C.I. church
Church Island monastery, Lough Beg
Church Island Abbey, Lough Beg
Portglenone Abbey Church Portglenone Abbey Church Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey, a Cistercian monastery in Portglenone, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, was founded in 1948 by Mount Melleray Abbey in County Waterford. The monks bought Portglenone House, a country mansion built about the year 1810 by the Church of Ireland Bishop, Dr. Alexander who... *	Cistercian, O.C.S.O.	Abbey of Our Lady of Bethlehem, Portglenone;
Templepatrick preceptory#	town said to be named for a Knights Templar Knights Templar The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders... foundation

County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...

Foundation	Communities/provenance	Alt. Name	Formal Name/Image
Armagh Friary#	Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... 1263/4-1551
Kilnasaggart monastery#	site occupied by the Kilnasaggart Stone
Tynan Abbey Tynan Abbey Tynan Abbey, County Armagh, Northern Ireland was a large neo-gothic-romantic country house built circa 1750 and situated outside the village of Tynan...	Originally a mansion named 'Fairview', remodeled in the monastic-gothic style, it was always a private home.

County Down
County Down
-Cities:Belfast Newry -Large towns:DundonaldNewtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

Foundation	Communities/provenance	Alt. Name	Formal Name/Image
Ards Peninsula abbeys
Bangor Abbey Bangor Abbey Bangor Abbey was established by Saint Comgall in 558 in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland and was famous for its learning and austere rule. It is not to be confused with the even older abbey in Wales on the site of Bangor Cathedral. Bangor Abbey was a centre of learning which trained...	latterly Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... , site now incorporated into C.I. church
Comber Abbey#	Cistercian from Whitland Whitland Abbey Whitland Abbey was a Cistercian abbey near Whitland in south-west Wales, now in Carmarthenshire.Whitland was founded on 16 September 1140 by monks from the mother house of Clairvaux. In 1144 it was located at Little Trefgarn near Haverfordwest. It moved to Whitland in about 1155, a site having... 1200-1543, on the site of an earlier monastery founded by St Patrick, site now occupied by St Mary's C.I. church
Downpatrick monastery#	within the dun Dun Dun is now used both as a generic term for a fort and also for a specific variety of Atlantic roundhouse... or ráth Ringfort Ringforts are circular fortified settlements that were mostly built during the Iron Age , although some were built as late as the Early Middle Ages . They are found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland... on which the C.I. Cathedral now stands
Downpatrick Friary#	Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... 1235, burned 1316, conventual -Reformation English Reformation The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.... , Observant-Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... 1627-1650s
Grey Abbey Grey Abbey Grey Abbey is a ruined Cistercian priory in the village of Greyabbey, County Down, Northern Ireland, currently maintained by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency...	Cistercian, rebuilt and served for a time as a parish church
Holywood Priory Holywood Priory A monastery was founded by St Laiseran before 640 on the site of the present ruins of the medieval Old Priory at the junction of High Street, Victoria Road and the Old Bangor Road in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland.- History :...	founded by St Laiseran before 640 on the site of the present ruins of the medieval Old Priory; Holywood (Ard Mhic Nasca in Irish) was named Sanctus Boscus ("Holy Wood") by the Normans after the woodland surrounding the monastery
Inch Abbey Inch Abbey Inch Abbey is a large, ruined monastic site 0.75 miles north-west of Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland, on the north bank of the River Quoile in a hollow between two drumlins and featuring early Gothic architecture...	Cistercian, on the site of an earlier monastery
Magheralin monastery	site occupied by remains of 15th-C church
Movilla Abbey Movilla Abbey Movilla Abbey in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, is believed to be one of Ulster's most important monasteries and was founded by St. Finian in 540 AD. There was a school on the site in 543 which was attended by St. Columba. The Abbey was plundered by Vikings in 824 AD and refounded in...	site occupied by 13-15th-C church
Nendrum Monastery Nendrum Monastery Nendrum Monastery was a Christian monastery on Mahee Island in Strangford Lough, County Down, Northern Ireland. Medieval records say it was founded in the 5th century, but this is uncertain. The monastery came to an end at some time between 974 and 1178, but its church served a parish until the... , Mahee Island (Strangford Lough Strangford Lough Strangford Lough, sometimes Strangford Loch, is a large sea loch or inlet in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is separated from the Irish Sea by the Ards Peninsula. The name Strangford is derived ; describing the fast-flowing narrows at its mouth... )	Patrician Saint Patrick Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints.... from 6th century, burned 10th century, in late 12th century a small Benedictine Benedictine Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict... cell, by 1306 a parish church, abandoned 15th century
Newry monastery	Patrician Saint Patrick Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
Newry Abbey	Cistercian
Newtownards Priory Newtownards Priory Newtownards Priory was a medieval Dominican priory founded by the Savage family around 1244 in the village of Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. Only the lower parts of the nave and two blocked doors in the south wall leading to a demolished cloister, survive from the period of the...	Dominican Dominican Order The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
Portaferry monastery#	site thought to be now occupied by two small churches

County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....

Foundation	Communities/provenance	Alt. Name	Formal Name
Devenish Island Abbey, Lough Erne	Augustinian	Devenish Island Priory	The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Devenish Island
Lisgoole Abbey Lisgoole Abbey Lisgoole Abbey , or the Abbey Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Mary, was formerly located on the southern banks of upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh.... #	Augustinian Canons Regular Canons Regular Canons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common... c1145-1583, Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... 1583-1598, 1616-ante1811, built on site of early monastery (below)		The Abbey Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul Paul of Tarsus Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament... and Saint Mary, Lisgoole Lisgoole Abbey Lisgoole Abbey , or the Abbey Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Mary, was formerly located on the southern banks of upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh....
Lisgoole monastery#	site later occupied by Augustinian priory Priory A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the... (above)		The monastery of Saint Aid ST Aid A number of steam-powered tugs were named Aid, including, in service 1914-40, in service 1947-61... , Lisgoole Lisgoole Abbey Lisgoole Abbey , or the Abbey Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Mary, was formerly located on the southern banks of upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh....
White Island monastery?	attempts made to identify this location as being Eo-inis monastery

County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...

Foundation	Communities/provenance	Alt. Name	Formal Name
Ballykelly monastery?	site now occupied by remains of a church destroyed 1641
Derry monastery

Derry: possible Franciscan Friary, traditionally in Waterside and Ardmore area

County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...

Foundation	Communities/provenance	Alt. Name
Ardboe monastery	10thC
Clogher monastery	site now occupied by C.I. cathedral
Donaghmore monastery	ancient monastery (NM National monument A National monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of national importance such as a war or the country's founding. The term may also refer to a specific monument status, such as a National Heritage Site, which most national monuments are by reason of their cultural... )
Dromore Abbey	Cistercian, said to be on site of ancient nunnery
Dromore Friary~	Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... 1637-c1717
Dungannon Friary	Franciscan Franciscan Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities.... 1687-1817	Donaghmore Friary
Errigal Keeroge monastery
Priory of Our Lady of Benburb*	Servite, a mansion in the demesne Demesne In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants... of Benburb Castle

Strabane: some evidence of a small Franciscan Friary east of the town 1660s-18thC

External links

Nendrum Abbey Photos
Grey Abbey Photos
Landscapes Unlocked - Aerial footage from the BBC Sky High series explaining the physical, social and economic geography of Nendrum.

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Abbreviations and Key

County AntrimCounty AntrimCounty Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...

County ArmaghCounty Armagh-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...

County DownCounty Down-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

County FermanaghCounty FermanaghFermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....