Churches and Monasteries in Ireland

It is impossible to overlook the long history of Christianity in Ireland when travelling around the country. The landscape is dottend with churches, ancient and modern and with the remains of monastic settlements, many once large and thriving centres of learning.

These are fascinating and rewarding places to visit, with complex histories that reflect the struggles of the Irish people to retain their idendity and beliefs, often in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

As well as those churches formally open to the public, you will come accross many ruins of monastic settlements which are just in the middle of a field, with no formal access for visitors. If you enquire locally about the owner of the land, you may be able to get permission to explore these.

Clonmacnoise

Churches & Monasteries Near Shannonbridge, Co Offaly

Founded by Saint Ciaran, sometime in the 6th century, Clonmacnoise is one of the oldest and most important early Christian settlements in Europe. Built in the centre of Ireland where an ancient roadway, the Eiscir Riada which ran from Dublin to Galway,...
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Ennis Friary

Churches & Monasteries Ennis, Co Clare

Although a ruin now, Ennis Friary was once home to over 300 Franciscan Friars and 600 students. It was established in 1240 when the Franciscans were invited to the area and given land by Donncha O’Brien, King of Thomond. Both the powerful O'Brien family...
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Galway Cathedral

Churches & Monasteries Galway City

Galway Cathedral is one of the city's largest buildings and its huge octagonal dome is visible for miles around. It is relatively new, completed in 1965, and unusually for a church of that period was built not of concrete but of stone, a major project...
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Glendalough

Churches & Monasteries Co Wicklow

Glendalough, or 'the valley of two lakes' is a place with which almost everyone is vaguely familiar even before they visit, so famous and iconic are the images of its high round tour. But being there, walking though the ancient monastery surrounded by...
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St Canice's Cathedral

Churches & Monasteries Kilkenny City

St Canice's Cathedral was built during the early 13th century on the site of an earlier monastic settlement which gave the city of Kilkenny its name, Chill Choinneach, meaning the Church of Canice. The 31m high round tower, one of very few which...
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The Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas

Churches & Monasteries Galway City

St Nicholas' was established around 1320 and is named for St Nicholas of Myra, the patron Saint of seafarers. Local legand has it that Chistopher Columbus prayed here before he set out on his voyage to the new world. Over the centuries it has alternated...
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Ireland's Holy Places

In addition to buildings like churches, monesteries and friaries, Ireland has a host of places that are considered sacred. These range from places which pilgims traditionally visited, and often still do, to holy wells crdited with providing cures for various ills.

Most of these places have an association with a Saint, though in many cases there is evidence that they were also important in pre-Christian Ireland.

For more about some of these places, see Places of Pilgrimage in Ireland

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