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.
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).
early monastic site, founded in the 6th century; diocesan cathedral; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian? founded after 1144?; church possibly shared by Canons and nuns (see immediately below); dissolved c.1593?; granted to the provost and fellows of Holy Trinity Dublin
Augustinian nuns — Arroasian? founded after 1144, possibly by St Malachy; dependent on Kilcreevanty from before 1223; church possibly shared by Canons (see immediately above) and nuns; dissolved c.1590?; granted to Terence (Tirlaughe O'Byrne) 1595;
St Mary
Ardcarn Friary¤
recorded as Franciscan Friars — no monastic house; Friars of Knockvicar owned land in the parish
Ardsenlis Monastery ~≈
early monastic site, nuns founded in the 5th century by St Patrick; possibly located in County Roscommon
Senlis?
Assylin Monastery
early monastic site, founded probably before 563 by St Colmcille; often mistaken for Inshmacnerin
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian probable cell, dependent on Roscommon; founded before 1266; dissolved before 1466, vicarage granted to the prior of Rindown
Camelite Friars dependent on Eglish; founded after c.1437; dissolved c.1567, possibly abandoned by the Carmelites; leased to Edmund O'Fallon of Athlone 1575; Franciscan Friars? possibly in occupation in the 16th century (during the reign of Elizabeth I)
early monastic site, possibly founded in the 5th century, possibly by St Patrick; sometimes confused with Ath-da-larc, County Meath; Cistercian monks — from Buniffi (community founded from Grelachdinach 16 August 1148 by Abbot Peter O'Mordha) founded 1161; affiliated to Clairvaux 1228; dissolved c.1589; granted to Patrick Dusacke of Gerrardston; (NM)
early monastic site, founded in the 5th century? (by the time of St Patrick); Dominican Friars founded 1385 by Mac Dermot Roe (Rufus); priory leased to Hugh boy O'Donnell 1577; lands leased to the mayor of Galway 1578; friary leased to Bryan Mac Dermot 1580; dissolved before 1596; leased to William Taaffe of Sligo 1596; friary later owned by Lord Dillan and rented by a Protestant named Davis
The Holy Cross ____________________ Cluain-sainmhill; Cluain-senmall; Cluain-maoil
early monastic site, founded in the 6th century by St Faithlinn; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian founded after 1140, probably by an O'Conor - possibly Turlough O'Conor; dissolved 1563?; granted to Fryall O'Farrell
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian — from Roscommon founded before 1156?, site granted by O'Conor; double monastery with nuns' priory (see immediately below) until 1223-4; dissolved c.1578?; Augustinian Friars
St Mary ____________________ Dhoran; Daren; Deerane; Derreen; Doren; Dorhan
Augustinian nuns — Arroasian double monastery with Canons' abbey (see immediately above) founded after 1144; dependent on Kilcreevanty from before 1223; dissolved after 1223-4
Augustinian nuns — Arroasian dependent on Clonard; founded before 1195, confirmed to the nuns of Clonard; dependent on Kilcreevanty from before 1223, confirmed to the nuns of Kilcreevanty c.1223 and 1400; dissolved c.1543?; owned by Earl of Clanricarde 1641
St Mary ____________________ Druimeliar; Drumcliff; Dromalga
Cistercian monks land granted to St Mary's Abbey, Dublin by Rory O'Conor not later than 1236; abbey probably never built
Briole; Bruigheol
Elphin Cathedral Monastery
early monastic site, traditionally founded c.450 (434 or 435) by St Patrick; diocesan cathedral c.1130; see transferred to Roscommon 1152; see transferred from Roscommon c.1168; Augustinian Canons Regular - Arroasian? founded after 1140; see transferred from Elphin 1244; dissolved before 1442; storm damaged 1957, demolished shortly afterwards; ruins partially restored
St Mary ____________________ Ailfinn; Ail-find; Oilfinn; Olfin; Emlach-ono
early monastic site, founded in the 5th century by St Patrick, tradition that Ono, son of Oengus gifted his house to St Patrick; Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded before 1453, parish church of St Patrick granted to the friars by Cornelius, Bishop of Elphin before 1450, Cornelius was instructed by the Pope to license new friaries 1453; dissolved 1563, friars expelled by the Protestant bishop, who demolished the friary and built a house from the ruins; granted to Terence O'Birne-Termor; erroneously referred to as Dominican in inquisition 1591
early monastic site, Patrician monks founded in the 6th century; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian? founded 1140-70?; dissolved before 1596; founded post1140; dissolved 1569?; granted to William Taaffe 1596; (NM)
St Mary ____________________ Inis-mac-n-erin; Insula-Macnery; Insula-Machum; Inch-vicrinni; Church Island, Lough Key (not Eas-mac-eirc, as given by some, which is Assylin (q.v.))
Augustinian nuns — Arroasian dependent on Kilcreevanty; founded before 1223, church granted to the nuns of Kilcreevanty by Pope Honorius IIIc.1223 and by Pope Boniface IX 1400; dissolved 1543?
early monastic site, purportedly founded in the 5th century by St Patrick for Conleng and Ercleng; mistaken by early sources for Kilmore, County Cavan; Augustinian Canons Regular 155 183; Augustinian Friars
Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular foundation unknown erroneously referred to as Dominican Friars, purportedly by the Bingham family,[notes 11] however they were not in Ireland at the time;[notes 12]
dissolved c.1583-4; granted to Richard Kendlemarch (Kyndelinshe)
early monastic site, founded by 700;[notes 13] Premonstratensian Canons daughter of Prémontré founded after 1217-8 (c.1215) by Clarus MacMailin, archdeacon of Elphin; raised to abbey status c.1235; held in commendam by Rory MacDermot from 1548; granted to Robert Harrison 1594; dissolved after 1600?, monks probably remained in occupation until 1608; (NM)
The Holy Trinity ____________________ Lough Cé; Trinity Island
Crutched Friars (or less likely Knights Hospitaller) founded before 1216, believed to be by King John for the Cruciferi or for the Knights Hospitallers; plundered 1229; raided by Felim O'Conor 1216; burnt by Aed O'Conor 1270 dissolved before 1569; granted to Christopher Davers 1569; leased to George Goodman 1588
St John the Baptist ____________________ Randoon; Rinnduin; Renydwyn; Tea-eon; St John's de Rynndum; Monaster-eoin-baisde; Monaster-evin
early monastic site, founded in the 6th century by St Comman, disciple of St Finnian of Clonard; diocesan cathedral see translated from Elphin 1152; see translated to Elphin c.1168; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian founded after 1140, possibly with Arroasian reformation 1140-8 by Turlogh O'Conor at the instance of St Malachy; plundered by William de Burgo 1204; burned by the Anglo-Normans 1235 and 1247; plundered by Mac William de Burgo 1260; dissolved before 1578; granted to Sir Nicholas Malbye 1578; granted to Francis Viscount Valentia 1615; Augustinian Friars
St Mary ____________________ Ros-comain; Ros-chomon; Ros-camain; Ros-coman
Augustinian nuns — Arroasian founded after 1144; possible double monastery with Roscommon Abbey (see immediately above); dependent on Kilcreevanty after 1223, church confirmed to the nuns of Kilcreevanty by Pope Honorius IIIc.1223 and by Pope Boniface IX 1400; dissolved after 1223-4, nuns probably transferred to Termonkeelin after 1223-4
St Mary
Roscommon Blackfriars
Dominican Friars founded 1253 by Felim O'Conor, King of Connacht, buried here; consecrated 1257 by Thomas O'Conor, Bishop of Elphin; burned 1270; dissolved 1573; leased to Thomas le Strange 1573; ruinous by 1612; granted to Francis Viscount Valentia 1615; friars remained in the vicinity, continuing into the 19th century
Augustinian nuns — Arroasian — possibly from Derrane and Roscommon dependent on Kilcreevanty; founded after 1223-4; dissolved during the reign of Queen Elizabeth?
early monastic site, founded probably in the late 6th century by St Baithen Mac Cuanach; plundered by the king of Feara-Manach 1201; plundered by Aed Muimnech 1233
Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular founded in the 15th century?, founded by the O'Conor family; also dubiously given as Dominican Friars dissolved 1585-8; granted to Richard Kyndelinshe (Kendlemarch) 1588
Dominican Friars founded 1448 by a (Mac)Dowell or other, land granted by Felim (Fedlimid) mac Fedlimid O'Conor, buried here; dissolved before 1591?; land granted to Terence O'Byrne 1594; friary granted to William Taaffe 1596; repaired by Bingham 1595
St Patrick ____________________ Tulsk Abbey; Tuilsce; Tuillsgi; Twilskye
^Memorial Atlas of Ireland, 1901 and Ordnance Survey (½ inch)
^duplication by Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, due to error in Louis Augustin Alemand, Monasticum Hibernicum, translated and edited by John Stevens, 1722
^Memorial Atlas of Ireland, 1901 and Ordnance Survey
^Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, pp. 290-1, erroneously attributes references to a church in Annals of Loch Cé, edited by William Maunsell Hennessy, M.R.I.A., Dublin, 1939, as being of an abbey
