Inislounaght Abbey
Encyclopedia
Inislounaght Abbey, also referred to as Innislounaght, Inislounacht and De Surio, was a 12th century Cistercian settlement on the river Suir, near Clonmel
in County Tipperary
, Ireland
. It was originally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.
), and Donald O'Brien, king of Munster
. It was located in rich agricultural land, about three kilometres west of Clonmel, on the northern bank of the river Suir. In 1240, a group of English monks from Furness Abbey
were sent to replace the former abbot who had been excommunicated in 1234 following a legal dispute with the abbot of Dunbrody
. Nine years later responsibility for the Abbey was transferred from Mellifont to Furness. In 1397, the Earls of Desmond
and of Ormond met here to seal a treaty of peace. As with similar treaties between them, it did not last long.
. According to Burke, "Amid the hundreds of religious houses which studded the country at the time of the Reformation
, Innislounaght stood distinguished and alone in evil prominence".
No trace of the Abbey now remains in its former location. There was still at least one arch standing in the early nineteenth century but much of the stonework is thought to have been used in the building of local mills, the present church (arch over entrance), and the Main Guard in nearby Clonmel (columns and associated elements). According to literary historian Patrick Leo (PL) Henry, Inislounaght may have been the inspiration for the fourteenth-century scathingly satirical poem Land of Cokaygne. The name was recorded as “Abby Slunnagh” in the maps and notes of the Down Survey
. It is believed to have been located slightly to the west of the 19th century St. Patrick's Church graveyard, near the present day village of Marlfield
. Efforts to locate its foundations in the 1840s by the Ordnance Survey
were not successful.
Unless otherwise indicated, all sourced from Burke pp406–423
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was originally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.
Foundation
The abbey was founded between 1142 and 1148 on lands donated by Malachy O'Phelan lord of the Decies (part of which was in present day County WaterfordCounty Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
), and Donald O'Brien, king of Munster
Kings of Munster
The name Munster is derived from the Gaelic God, Muman. The province of Munster was once divided into six regions: Tuadh Mhuman , Des Mhuman , Aur/Ur Mumhan , Iar mumhan or Iarmuman , Ernaibh Muman , and Deisi Muman...
. It was located in rich agricultural land, about three kilometres west of Clonmel, on the northern bank of the river Suir. In 1240, a group of English monks from Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey, or St. Mary of Furness is a former monastery situated on the outskirts of the English town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The abbey dates back to 1123 and was once the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in the country, behind only Fountains Abbey in North...
were sent to replace the former abbot who had been excommunicated in 1234 following a legal dispute with the abbot of Dunbrody
Dunbrody Abbey
Dunbrody Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in County Wexford, Ireland. The cross-shaped church was built in the 13th century, and the tower was added in the 15th century. With a length of 59m the church is one of the longest in Ireland...
. Nine years later responsibility for the Abbey was transferred from Mellifont to Furness. In 1397, the Earls of Desmond
Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond
Gerald fitzMaurice FitzGerald, also known by the Irish Gaelic "Gearóid Iarla" , was the 3rd Earl of Desmond, in southwestern Ireland, under the first creation of that title, and a member of the Hiberno-Norman dynasty of the FitzGeralds, or Geraldines...
and of Ormond met here to seal a treaty of peace. As with similar treaties between them, it did not last long.
Decline
In the 16th century, the Abbey lands came under the direct control of the secular Butler dynastyButler (surname)
Butler is a surname that has been associated with many different places and people. It can be either:* an English occupational name that originally denoted a servant in charge of the wine cellar, from the Norman French word butuiller...
. According to Burke, "Amid the hundreds of religious houses which studded the country at the time of the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, Innislounaght stood distinguished and alone in evil prominence".
That in the same quarter of Tipperary, how James Butler, Abbey of Inislounaght and Dean of LismoreLismore, County WaterfordLismore is a town in County Waterford, Ireland. It is located where the N72 road crosses the River Blackwater.-History:It was founded by Saint Mochuda, also known as Saint Carthage. In the 7th century, Lismore was the site of the well-known Lismore Abbey. It is also home to Lismore Castle, the...
, hath sundry times disobeyed the King's writ and is a man of odious life, taking yearly and daily men's wives and burgess' daughters and keepeth no divine service but spends the goods of his church in voluptuosity, and mortgages the lands of his church and so the house is all decayed , and useth coyne and livery.
From the Jury of the city of Waterford to the King's Commissioners. October 12 1537.
No trace of the Abbey now remains in its former location. There was still at least one arch standing in the early nineteenth century but much of the stonework is thought to have been used in the building of local mills, the present church (arch over entrance), and the Main Guard in nearby Clonmel (columns and associated elements). According to literary historian Patrick Leo (PL) Henry, Inislounaght may have been the inspiration for the fourteenth-century scathingly satirical poem Land of Cokaygne. The name was recorded as “Abby Slunnagh” in the maps and notes of the Down Survey
Down Survey
The Down Survey, also known as the Civil Survey, refers to the mapping of Ireland carried out by William Petty, English scientist in 1655 and 1656....
. It is believed to have been located slightly to the west of the 19th century St. Patrick's Church graveyard, near the present day village of Marlfield
Marlfield, Clonmel
Marlfield is a village three kilometres west of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland. It is within the townlands of Marlfield and Inishlounaght. It replaced an older settlement named Abbey, which had developed near the 12th century Cistercian community of Inislounaght Abbey.- Local industry...
. Efforts to locate its foundations in the 1840s by the Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey Ireland
Ordnance Survey Ireland is the national mapping agency of the Republic of Ireland and, together with the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland , succeeded, after 1922, the Irish operations of the United Kingdom Ordnance Survey. It is part of the Public service of the Republic of Ireland...
were not successful.
Monks associated with Inislounaght
- Congan, Abbot in 1148. Requested St. BernardBernard of ClairvauxBernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order.After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Three years later, he was sent to found a new abbey at an isolated clearing in a glen known as the Val...
to write 'The Life of St. Malachy'(De vita et rebus gestis S. Maiachiae, Hiberniae episcopi). - Malmaire O'Brien, (otherwise Mairín Ó Briain), former Archbishop of CashelArchbishop of CashelThe Archbishop of Cashel is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. The title is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it was downgraded to a bishopric in 1838....
, buried here in 1236. - Abbot Patrick, died 1462.
- Abbotship disputed between Richard Loundres, Dermot O'Heffernan and William O'Dineen. Pope Paul IIPope Paul IIPope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.- Early life :He was born in Venice, and was a nephew of Pope Eugene IV , through his mother. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope...
confirms Dineen in 1468. - Thomas Ochael appointed by Pope Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...
on May 19, 1492. - Walter Butler, Abbot in 1503.
- James Butler, appointed Abbot in 1510
- Nicholas Fagan, Abbot, died 1617.
- Laurence FitzHarris of New RossNew RossNew Ross is a town located in southwest County Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of 7,709 people, making it the third largest town in the county after Wexford and Enniscorthy.-History:...
, consecrated Abbot by Archbishop FlemingThomas Fleming (archbishop)Thomas Fleming was an Irish Franciscan and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.He was son of the Baron of Slane. He studied at the Franciscan College of Leuven, became a priest of the Franciscan Order, and after finishing his studies continued at the Catholic University of Leuven for a number of...
of Dublin on Trinity SundayTrinity SundayTrinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Western Christian liturgical calendar, and the Sunday of Pentecost in Eastern Christianity...
, 1625. FitzHarris was the last Abbot of Inislounaght, fleeing to FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1649, to escape the Cromwellian regimeCromwellian conquest of IrelandThe Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
.
Unless otherwise indicated, all sourced from Burke pp406–423
Sources
- CONWAY (Rev. Columcille). The Cistercian abbey of Inislounaght. Journal of the Clonmel Historical and Archaeological Society, i, no. 4, pp. 3–52. (1955-56)
- Colmcille O. Conbhuidhe, Finbarr Donovan The Cistercian Abbeys of Tipperary, Four Courts Press, 1999 ISBN 978-1-85182-380-2
- Burke William P., History of Clonmel 1907 (facsimile reprinted 1983)
External links
- Cistercian Abbeys: INISLOUNAGHT (Suir)
- The Land of Cockaygne British Library, MS Harley 913.
- 'Abby Slunagh' in relation to 'Clonmell Citty' from Down SurveyDown SurveyThe Down Survey, also known as the Civil Survey, refers to the mapping of Ireland carried out by William Petty, English scientist in 1655 and 1656....
map. 'Waterford Historical and Archeological Journal' 1995, p124.