Clare Island Abbey, Clare Island, Ireland

Clare Island Abbey, officially St. Brigid's Abbey, is a former Cistercian monastery located in County Mayo. It was founded in the 12th/13th century and in 1224 became a cell of Knockmoy Abbey, a Cistercian abbey near Tuam.

It was rebuilt c. 1460. It contains numerous tombs of the local ruling family, the Ó Máille (O'Malley) and tradition claims it as the site of the baptism, marriages and burial of Gráinne 'Grace' O'Malley (c. 1530 – c. 1603), the famous 'pirate queen.' She is believed to have been interred at the O'Malley tomb which has a canopy.

The abbey was probably dissolved during the late 16th century. Later it was a place of refuge for Carmelite Friars.

Building

The abbey is furnished with piscina, sedilia, carved heads and ogee and cusp-headed lancet windows.

Clare Island Abbey contains a series of medieval wall and ceiling paintings. They depict mythical, human and animal figures including dragons, a cockerel, stags, men on foot and on horseback, a harper, birds and trees. Such ornamentation is unusual for a Cistercian foundation.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Clare Island, Ireland

See all sites in Clare Island

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Religious sites in Ireland

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Burrishoole Friary (29,7 km)
Carrickkildavnet Castle (10,1 km)
Rockfleet Castle (26,4 km)
Kilgeever Abbey (15,1 km)

User Reviews

Aidan Markey (10 months ago)
A little hidden gem, historically.

Egill Pálsson (2 years ago)
Took the boat over early morning and back in late afternoon. Rented a bike and explored. Had best fish (pollack) and chips ever tasted in Ireland. A part from nice nature the abbey was intresting.

CLARE Morris (3 years ago)
We were lucky to be allowed inside as there were men doing some restorative work. There were stunning art and metal work. very historic

Ansel Burch (Ansel Burch) (3 years ago)
The Abbey is incredible and well worth the short hike from the main cove. You have to visit the shop nearby (the only one) to get a key to the lock. From there you have full access to the interior, informational signs inside and the incredible art that adorns the ceiling. No photos are allowed inside.

anne marie kelly (5 years ago)
The Abbey was closed which is a pity,it sounds well worth seeing. The island is beautiful. Try to walk around and over the hills(it's small so you can do that).

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Christian Lauw

Historic Site of the week

Wieskirche

The Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann. It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the municipality of Steingaden.

The sanctuary of Wies is a pilgrimage church extraordinarily well-preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, and is a perfect masterpiece of Rococo art and creative genius, as well as an exceptional testimony to a civilization that has disappeared.

The hamlet of Wies, in 1738, is said to have been the setting of a miracle in which tears were seen on a simple wooden figure of Christ mounted on a column that was no longer venerated by the Premonstratensian monks of the Abbey. A wooden chapel constructed in the fields housed the miraculous statue for some time. However, pilgrims from Germany, Austria, Bohemia, and even Italy became so numerous that the Abbot of the Premonstratensians of Steingaden decided to construct a splendid sanctuary.

Clare Island Abbey