List of monastic houses in County Armagh

The smaller establishments such as monastic cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks) and camerae of the military orders of monks (Knights Templars and Knights 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, or preceptory/commandery.

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.

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:

NIEA	Scheduled Monument (NI)
NM	National Monument (ROI)
C.I.	Church of Ireland
R.C.	Roman Catholic Church

ARMAGH (see right)

Ballymoyer Monastery

Creggan (approx.)

Derrynoose Monastery

Eglais Monastery

Killevy Abbey

Kilmore Monastery

Kilnasaggart Monastery (approx.)

Mullaghbrack

Seagoe Monastery

Tartaraghan Grange

Tassagh Priory

Tynan Abbey

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Locations of monastic houses in County Armagh

Armagh Abbey (approx.)

Armagh Priory of Culdees (approx.)

Temple-na Ferta (approx.)

Armagh Temple Brigit (approx.)

Armagh Friary

Armagh Church of Columcille (approx.)

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Locations of monastic houses in Armagh

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 (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 (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 (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 (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
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 (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
Creggan		Franciscan Friars, First Order — place of refuge	Cregan	[11][12] 54°04′57″N 6°34′34″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
Eglish Monastery		early monastic site; remains of two high crosses on site[notes 4]	Eglais	[15] 54°23′39″N 6°45′35″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
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
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 (approx)
Mullaghbrack		Armagh Culdees – the Prebendary of Mullaghbrack	Mullach Breac	[20][21] 54°19′13″N 6°31′40″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
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
Tassagh Priory		Culdees, dependent on Armagh and Derrynoose; St Tassach? Culdee cemetery	Ballintassa; Tassaghowtragh	[26][27] 54°16′50″N 6°40′20″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

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

See also

• List of monastic houses in Ireland

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

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2. James Stuart (1819). Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh. A. Wilkinson. pp. 96–.
3. Seán Duffy (15 January 2005). Medieval Ireland. pp. 48–. ISBN 978-1-135-94824-5.
4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
5. Mervyn Archdall (1873). Monasticon Hibernicum. W. B. Kelly. pp. 49–.
6. Lynn, C. J.; Simms, Katharine; Paterson, T. G. F.; Bateson, Donal; Dolley, Michael (1975). "Excavation in the Franciscan Friary Church, Armagh". Ulster Journal of Archaeology. 38: 61–80. JSTOR 20567749.
7. "Ulster Journal of Archaeology, October 1897, Volume 4, Page 232 | Document Viewer". Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
8. "Place Names NI – Home". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
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. ó Fiaich, Tomas (1956). "From Creggan to Louvain". Seanchas Ardmhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society. 2 (1): 90–113. doi:10.2307/29740625. JSTOR 29740625.
12. "A brief history of Upper Creggan Parish & its Motherchurch, St Patrick's Crossmaglen". Upper Creggan Parish. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
13. "Place Names NI – Home". Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
14. Reeves, William (1900). "The History of Tynan Parish, in the Arch-Diocese of Armagh (Continued)". Ulster Journal of Archaeology. 6 (4): 210–217. JSTOR 20565973.
15. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
16. "Killevy (Killeavy) Old Churches". discovernorthernireland.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
17. "History | Kilmore Parish, Armagh". Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
18. "Place Names NI – Home". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
19. Andy O`Halpin; Conor Newman (26 October 2006). Ireland. OUP Oxford. pp. 108–. ISBN 978-0-19-151317-6.
20. "Place Names NI – Home". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
21. McGleenon, C. F. (1987). "The Medieval Parishes of Ballymore and Mullabrack". Seanchas Ardmhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society. 12 (2): 11–54. doi:10.2307/29745259. JSTOR 29745259.
22. "Parish of seagoe". Lisburn.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
23. "Tartaraghan Precinct". Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
24. "Rectors Page". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
25. "History". Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
26. "Place Names NI – Home". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
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. "Ulster journal of archaeology". Belfast [Ulster Archaeological Society]. 1853.