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).
Cistercian monks — from Monasteranenagh daughter house of Monasteranenagh; founded 1154 founder unknown - erroneously given as a Fitzmaurice; daughter house of Mellifont; daughter house of Monasteranenagh restored; dissolved 1537 (though last abbot active until 1577) site now in use as a graveyard
?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)
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)
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
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
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)
Franciscan Friars transferred from Gorey 1860; church opened 1867; friary opened 1879; became the Novitiate House of the Irish Province for a time; extant
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)
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
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
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
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
