List of monastic houses in County Armagh

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
Armagh Abbey		Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1126, consecrated by Archbishop Cellach 1126; refounded 1134; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian adopted c.1140 at the instigation of St Malachy; dissolved 1562; re-established	SS Peter and Paul	[1] 54°20′58″N 6°39′22″W / 54.349434°N 6.656134°W (approx)
Armagh Blackfriars ^ø		suggested community of Dominican Friars purportedly founded c.1264 by Patrick O'Scanlon; evidence lacking
Armagh Priory of Culdees		Culdees founded before 779	Ard-macha Altum Machae; Emain-Macha; Druim Saillech	[2] 54°20′49″N 6°39′25″W / 54.347042°N 6.657071°W (approx)
Armagh Temple-na-Ferta ?Abbey		Gaelic nuns founded 5th century by St Patrick; Augustinian Cannonesses Regular — Arroasian? apparently refounded c.1144?; dissolved 1562?; granted to Francis Annesley, Esq. by King James 1618	Temple Fortagh	[3][4] 54°20′49″N 6°39′07″W / 54.346837°N 6.651929°W (approx)
Armagh Temple Brigid ?Priory		Gaelic nuns dependent on Temple-na-Ferta founded 5th century by St Patrick; Augustinian Cannonesses Regular — Arroasian? apparently refounded c.1144?; dissolved 1562?	Templebreed Priory	[5] 54°20′51″N 6°39′17″W / 54.347428°N 6.654755°W (approx)
Armagh Friary ^#		Franciscan Friars founded 1263/4-1551 by Archbishop Patrick O’Scannail; dissolved 1542, though some religious life continued; buildings were used for welfare purposes later in the 16th century; ruinous by 1600		[6] 54°20′38″N 6°39′11″W / 54.3439526°N 6.6531836°W
Armagh Abbey of Columcille		founded before 1010; noted as St Columba’s Church - Rocque’s 1760 map of Armagh	Templecolumkilly in Bore-netrian-sassenach	[7] 54°20′59″N 6°39′24″W / 54.349778°N 6.656542°W (approx)
Ballymoyer Monastery ^≈		early monastic site, founded by St Patrick,[notes 1] possibly Tehallan, County Monaghan[notes 2]	Baile-mac-maier; Ballymyre; Tech-talain?; Tahellen?	[8][9][10] 54°13′02″N 6°31′22″W / 54.217138°N 6.522868°W
Creggan		Franciscan Friars, First Order — place of refuge	Cregan	[11][12] 54°04′57″N 6°34′34″W / 54.08251°N 6.57600°W (approx)
Derrynoose Monastery ^~		early monastic site, founded 6th century by Mochua of Dairinis; later Culdees of Armagh also suggested to be located in County Cavan[notes 3]	Dairinis; Derinish; Derenoyse; Toaghy	[13][14] 54°13′57″N 6°47′04″W / 54.232500°N 6.784410°W
Eglish Monastery		early monastic site; remains of two high crosses on site[notes 4]	Eglais	[15] 54°23′39″N 6°45′35″W / 54.3941492°N 6.7597248°W
Killevy Friary ^≈¤	Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular actually Killeenbrenan, County Mayo — the house at Killevy being a convent of nuns		Kilslere Friary
Killevy Abbey		Gaelic nuns (community founded c.484 at Faughart; transferred to Beg-erin, County Wexford) transferred from Beg-erin: founded c.500 (517) by St Moninna (Darerca); Augustinian Cannonesses Regular — Arroasian? refounded after 1171? C.I. parish church built on site	Cell Sleibe Cuilin; Cell-shleibe; Cell-shleibe-mor-Cuillin; Mons-Cuillinn; Kilsleve; Belslebhe; Killeavy	[16] 54°08′14″N 6°24′33″W / 54.1371511°N 6.4092696°W
Kill-unche Monastery ^~		founded by St Nectan in reg. Conalliae Murthemhne, possibly located in County Armagh
Kilmore Monastery		early monastic site, founded by St Mochta burned 749; also identified as Kilmore, County Monaghan; Church of Ireland church built on site	Cellmor-einer; Cellmor-muighe-emhir; Cellmor-Ua-Niallain; Cellmor-inir; Cellmor-Aedhan; Kilmore Aedhan; cell-mor; Cella Magna?; Lismor?; Killmor-Aedhan?	[17] 54°24′01″N 6°32′53″W / 54.400167°N 6.548060°W
Kilnasaggart Monastery ^#		site occupied by the Kilnasaggart Stone	Ternocc mac Ciarain dećc; i Cill na Saccart	[18][19] 54°04′18″N 6°22′46″W / 54.071695°N 6.379361°W (approx)
Mullaghbrack		Armagh Culdees - the Prebendary of Mullaghbrack	Mullach Breac	[20][21] 54°19′13″N 6°31′40″W / 54.320320°N 6.527912°W
Seagoe Monastery		early monastic site, founded by St Gobhan, abbot	Suidhe Gobha; Tech-da-Gobha; Tegh-da-Gobha	[22] 54°26′15″N 6°25′28″W / 54.437372°N 6.424319°W
Straidbail-Loyse Friary ^≈		given as friary of Franciscans founded 1282; probable mistaken reference to Stradbally, County Laois
Tartaraghan		Grange of the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul in Armagh		[23][24][25] 54°26′59″N 6°33′12″W / 54.449666°N 6.553284°W
Tassagh Priory		Culdees,dependent on Armagh and Derrynoose; St Tassach? Culdee cemetery	Ballintassa; Tassaghowtragh	[26][27] 54°16′50″N 6°40′20″W / 54.28058°N 6.67232°W
Tech-fethgnai Monastery		early monastic site, possibly a cell near Armagh monastery, founded by Mael-muire, erenagh
Tynan Abbey ^#		Gaelic monks founded before 1072; mansion named 'Fairview' built on site c.1750; remodelled in the monastic-gothic style, residence of the Stronge family; part in use by the Royal Ulster Constabulary from 1923; bombed by the IRA 21 January 1981; demolished 1998	Tiudhnidha; Tuidnigha	[28] 54°19′52″N 6°49′23″W / 54.331°N 6.823°W

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

Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone Carlow Cavan Clare Cork Donegal Dublin Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow

Notes

1. Ballymyre identified with Tahellin — J.B. Leslie, Armagh Clergy and Parishes, 1911
2. Ballymyre identified with Tehallin — G. T. Stokes and Hennessy
3. Derrynoose identified with Dairinis, County Cavan — Plummer; Rev. T. Fee, communications, identifies 'in terra Ergallensium' as Derrynoose, County Armagh
4. Eglish — Rev. T. Fee, communications

References

1. http://www.mocavo.co.uk/Ulster-Journal-of-Archaeology-October-1897-Volume-4/369850/232
2. James Stuart (1819). Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh. pp. 96–.
3. Seán Duffy. Medieval Ireland:. pp. 48–. ISBN 978-1-135-94824-5.
4. http://www.science.ulster.ac.uk/crg/ipmag/IPMAG%20Post-Medieval%20Excavations.pdf
5. Mervyn Archdall (1873). Monasticon Hibernicum:. pp. 49–.
6. . JSTOR 20567749. Missing or empty |title= (help)
7. http://www.mocavo.co.uk/Ulster-Journal-of-Archaeology-October-1897-Volume-4/369850/232#231
8. http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=14094
9. Samuel Lewis (1849). A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. S. Lewis and Company. pp. 147–.
10. The Irish Ecclesiastical Record. Browne and Nolan. 1870. pp. 47–.
11. . JSTOR 29740625. Missing or empty |title= (help)
12. http://www.uppercreggan.co.uk/historical-overview.php
13. http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=14059
14. . JSTOR 20565973. Missing or empty |title= (help)
15. http://blackwaterregion.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HeritageGuide.pdf
16. Killevy (Killeavy) Old Churches
17. http://www.parishofkilmore.com/history/
18. http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=15178
19. Andy O`Halpin; Conor Newman (26 October 2006). Ireland. OUP Oxford. pp. 108–. ISBN 978-0-19-151317-6.
20. http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=10508
21. . JSTOR 29745259. Missing or empty |title= (help)
22. http://www.lisburn.com/books/dromore-diocese/parish-seagoe.html
23. http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/flemingtartaraghanprec.html
24. http://www.tartaraghan.armagh.anglican.org/mothersunion.htm
25. http://www.tartaraghan.armagh.anglican.org/history.htm
26. http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=13989
27. Noreen Cunningham; Pat McGinn (2001). The Gap of the North: The Archaeology & Folklore of Armagh, Down, Louth, and Monaghan. O'Brien Press. ISBN 978-0-86278-707-3.
28. https://archive.org/stream/ulsterjournalofa06ulstiala#page/104/mode/2up

See also

• List of monastic houses in Ireland