List of monastic houses in County Laois

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
Abbeyleix Abbey#		Cistercian monks — from Baltinglass founded 1183 by Corcherger O'Moore (Cucogry O’More/Connor O'More); colonized from Baltinglass 7 September 1184 dissolved before 1552?; granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormond 1563	Leix Abbey; Lex Dei
Abbeyleix Monastery (Clonkeen)		early monastic site, founded c.600
Addrigoole Monastery		early monastic site, nuns founded before 600? by St Finbarr of Cork; probably Augustinian nuns after 1160; dissolved c.1240, convent granted to the prioress and nuns of Kilculliheen by David Fitz Milo, Baron of Overke - no subsequent record of nuns at the convent	Addergoole; Etargabail
Aghaboe Friary		Dominican Friars founded 1382 by Florence Mac Gilpatrick, Lord of Ossory; dissolved 1540; granted to Florence Fitzpatrick, Baron of Upper Ossory 1601	St Canice
Aghaboe Monastery #		early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Canice episcopal diocesan cathedral	Achad-Bo; Aghavoe; Athebowe; Hagevo
Aghaboe Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1382; on site of Aghaboe Monastery (see immediately above); dissolved; granted to Florence FitzPatrick c.1600
Aghmacart Monastery		early monastic site, founded 6th century	St Tigernach ____________________ Achad-maic-airt; Achad-mic-airt; Achamicaire; Hacmakarthy
Aghmacart Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1168?, supposedly on the site of earlier monastery (see immediately above); dissolved 1540; granted to Florence Fitzpatrick, Baron of Upper Ossory 1601	St Tigernach St Mary ____________________ Achad-maic-airt; Achad-mic-airt; Achamicaire; Hacmakarthy; Achmacatenis; Achmecart; Ahmart; Amcart
Aghmacart parish 'Abbey', nr Glenmacoll		"Abbey (in ruins)"
Annatrim Monastery		early monastic site, founded by St Mochoemoc (Pulcherius)	Eadcruin; Enach-truim	(approx)
Ardea parish 'Friary' nr River Triogue		"Friary in ruins"		(approx)
Attanagh Monastery		mentioned 1202-18 — possibly Loughill	Athenagh; Athanagh; Loughill?
Ballylynan 'Abbey', nr Killabban parish		supposed monastic site, order, foundation and period unknown; purportedly founded by the O'More family; "Abbey in ruins"	Abbey of Shanecourt; Old Court
Clonagh 'Monastery', Killabban parish		"Monastery (in ruins)"
Clonenagh Monastery		founded 6th century by St Fintan; site now occupied by the remains of Clonenagh Church	Cluain-ednech; Cluain-eidnech; Cluain-oynach
Clonmeen Abbey		supposed monastic site, order, foundation and period unknown; "Site of Abbey"	Cluain-min
Durrow Monastery		early monastic site, founded by St Fintan Loeldubh of Dermagh in Hiduach	Durmagh-ua-nDuach; Dermagh	(approx)
Dysartenos Monastery		early monastic site, founded by St Oengus between retiring from Clonenagh and prior to move to Tallaght	Disert-aengusa; Disert-enos
Dysart Gallen Monastery		early monastic site	Disert-Chuilin
Errill Monastery		early monastic site, purportedly founded 5th century by St Ciaran; "Friary (in ruins)" and "Church (in ruins)"
Kildellig Monastery		early monastic site	Cell-dellce; Kil-edelig
Kilfoelain Monastery		early monastic site, possibly in County Laois or County Offaly	Cell-faolain; Kilfoylan? (Kilmanaghan parish, County Offaly)
Killabban Monastery		early monastic site, founded by St Abban	Cell-abbain; Kilebbane
Killermoghe Abbey		early monastic site, founded 558 by St Colmcille	Armuighe
Killeshin Monastery		early monastic site, founded late 545 by St Comghan; burned c.1042 by mac Mael-na-mbo; burned 1077; site occupied by ruined 12th-century church (NM)	Gleane; Glenn-uissen; Glinnhussen
Mountrath Monastery		early monastic site, monks, possibly founded 6th century by St Patrick	Muine-ratha	(approx)
Mountrath Nunnery		early monastic site, monks, possibly founded 6th century by St Brigid
Oughaval Monastery		founded c.595 by St Colman of Oughaval; church in parochial use after the 12th century; modified 19th century by the Cosby family
Newtown Nunnery		purported ruins of a house of nuns, foundation, period, order and status unknown	Baile-nua; Cahir	(approx)
Rathaspick Monastery		early monastic site	Raith-ne-n-epscop
Rosenallis Monastery		founded by St Brigid of Kildare; dissolved 1537	Ros-finglas
Rostuirc Monastery		early monastic site	Rostoirc; possibly Kilbricken (Offerlane parish)
Stradbally Abbey +		Franciscan Friars founded 1447 by Lord O'More; seized by the English c.1568; dissolved c.1569; large house built by Francis Cosby, from monastic materials; granted to Francis Cosby	Stradbaile-laoighisi; Strad-bhailelaoise; Loyes; Mon-au-bealing; Noughaval; Oughaval (q.v.)
Shrule Monastery		early monastic site, founded by late 5th century; plundered by the Osraigi 864	Sruthair-guairi; Sruthair-ghuaire
Sleaty Monastery		early monastic site, (community founded by St Fiacc at Domnach-feic); transferred here by St Fiacc; plundered by the Osraigi 864; site occupied by remains of Sleaty Church	Slebte; Sleibte; Sletty
Tempulna Cailleachdubh		early monastic site, nuns		(approx)
Timahoe Monastery		early monastic site, founded before 654 by St Mochua mac Lonan; burned 1142	Tech-mochua; Timohoe

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

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See also

• List of monastic houses in Ireland