Clare Island Abbey

Mainistir Chliara
Abbey viewed from the northeast
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other names	St. Brigid's Abbey, Mainister-ni-clarch; Cliara; Cleara; Clara; Insula Maris; Oilen-ui-maile
Order	Cistercians
Established	12th century
Disestablished	17th century
Mother house	Knockmoy Abbey
Diocese	Tuam
Architecture
Status	inactive
Style	Cistercian
Site
Location	Lecarrow, Clare Island, County Mayo
Coordinates	53°47′36″N 9°59′21″W / 53.793229°N 9.989088°W / 53.793229; -9.989088
Public access	yes
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Clare Island Abbey
Reference no.	97

Clare Island Abbey, officially St. Brigid's Abbey, is a former Cistercian monastery and National Monument located in Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland.^[1][2]

Location

Clare Island Abbey is located in the centre of the south part of Clare Island, near the post office.^[3]

History

Saint Bridget`s Abbey was founded in the 12th/13th century and in 1224 became a cell of Knockmoy Abbey, a Cistercian abbey near Tuam.^{[citation needed]}

It was rebuilt c. 1460. It contains numerous tombs of the local ruling family, the Ó Máille (O'Malley) and tradition claims it as the site of the baptism, marriages and burial of Gráinne "Grace" O'Malley (c. 1530 – c. 1603), the famous "pirate queen." She is believed to have been interred at the O'Malley tomb which has a canopy.^{[citation needed]}

The abbey was probably dissolved during the late 16th century. Later it was a place of refuge for Carmelite Friars.^{[citation needed]}

Building

The abbey is furnished with piscina, sedilia, carved heads and ogee and cusp-headed lancet windows.^{[4] [5]}

Clare Island Abbey contains a series of medieval wall and ceiling paintings. They depict mythical, human and animal figures including dragons, a cockerel, stags, men on foot and on horseback, a harper, birds and trees. Such ornamentation is unusual for a Cistercian foundation.^[6]