List of monastic houses in County Donegal

Inclusion

In this article, 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, 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.

Abbreviations and Key

Alphabetical listing of establishments
Ard Mhuire Friary
Assaroe Abbey
Balleeghan Friary
Ballymacswiney Friary
Ballymagroarty Monastery
(approx.)
Ballysaggart Friary
Bothchonais Monastery (approx.)
Carrickmore Monastery (approx.)
Carrowmore Monastery
Clonca Monastery
Clonleigh Monastery
Clonmany Monastery (approx.)
Conwal Abbey
Desertegny Monastery (approx.)
Domnach-mor-magene Monastery
(approx.)
Donagh Monastery (site)
Donaghmore Monastery
Donegal Friary
Drumhome Monastery
Eskaheen Monastery (approx.)
Fahan Monastery
Gartan-Rath Monastery
Glencolumbkille Monastery
Inishkeel Monastery
Inis Saimer Monastery
Inver Monastery
Kilbarron Monastery (approx.)
Kilcar Monastery (approx.)
Killybegs Friary
Killydonnell Friary
Kilmacrenan Friary
Kilmonaster Monastery
Lough Derg Friary — Saints Island
Lough Derg Priory — Station Island
Magherabeg Friary
Mevagh Monastery
Moville Monastery (approx.)
Racoon Monastery (approx.)
Raphoe Monastery
Rathmullan Priory
Raymoghy Monastery
Rossnowlagh Friary
Taughboyne Monastery
Temple Douglas
Tory Island Abbey (approx.)
Tullaghobegley Monastery (approx.)
Locations of monastic houses in County Donegal
Foundation Image Communities & Provenance Formal Name or Dedication
& Alternative Names 		OnLine References & Location
Ard Mhuire Friary * Capuchin Franciscan Friars [1]

55°07′22″N 7°54′37″W
Assaroe Abbey Cistercian monks — from Boyle
daughter house of Boyle
founded 1178 by Roderick O'Cananan, Prince of Tyrconnell or Flaharty;
colonized 1179 or 1184;
dedicated 1184 by Flaharty O'Muldorry;
burnt 1377;
plundered by Niall Óg O'Neill, King of Tyrone 1398;
dissolved after 1597; granted to Anthony Fyrres 1586		 God and St Bernard
____________________

Astrath;
Ashroe;
Ashrath;
Eas-Roe;
Es-aeda-ruaid;
Inis-Samer;
Samaria;
Esarua

54°30′33″N 8°12′03″W
Aughnish Monastery early monastic site, probably not continuing into 11th century;
erenaghs until 16th century		 Each-inis;
Tullyaughnish
Balleeghan Friary Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
founded c.1471;
dissolved 1603; granted to James Fullerton 1603		 Baile-Aighedh-Chaoin;
Baile-Fhindhetain;
Ballagha 		54°58′52″N 7°36′22″W
Ballymacswiney Friary Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
founded 1646 or 1469 by MacSwiney;
dissolved before 1607;
sold to Sir Ralph Bingley by Henry Perse,1612		 Baile-mic-suibhne;
Bailli-macquinadoe;
Mukish, nr. Castle Doe 		55°08′18″N 7°54′50″W
Ballymagrorty Monastery (Drumhome parish) early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Colmcille Ballymagroarty 54°33′01″N 8°08′07″W (approx)
Ballysaggart Friary Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular

founded c.1500(?) by the Mac-Ruini-Faigs (Mac Swiney Banagh?);
dissolved c.1602

 Baile-na-sagart;
Fan-an-chartha;
Fanegarah;
Fanogher;
Fanegarah 		54°35′39″N 8°23′34″W
Bochiminon Friary ~≈? Carmelite Friars, possibly located in County Donegal, possibly Rathmullen possibly Rathmullan
Bothchonais Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks, purportedly founded by Chonas, second husband of Darerca, sister of St Patrick;
continuing 11th century		 Boithe-conais 55°17′26″N 7°12′34″W (approx)
Carrickmore Monastery early monastic site
coarbs until 16th century		 Carraic;
Cairrge 		54°55′28″N 7°28′00″W (approx)
Carrowmore Monastery early monastic site [2]

55°15′21″N 7°11′20″W
Clonca Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
erenaghs until early 17th century		 [3]

55°16′04″N 7°10′25″W
(given as 55°22′14″N 7°19′48″W on Ordnance Survey map, 1965 - not on 1960 map)
Clondahorkey Monastery early monastic site;
erenagh land 16th-17th century
Clonenagh Monastery early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Colmcille Cluain-enach in Inishowen
Clonfert-mulloe Monastery early monastic site, founded before 605;
dissolved after 925		 Cluain-ferta-molua;
Kyle
Cluain-imurchir early monastic site, in existence in the time of St Abban Cluain-nimurchir;
Cluain-immorchair
Clonleigh Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded c.530 by St Colmcille;
erenaghs until 16th-17th century		 Cluain-laegh;
Cluain-laig;Cluain-laodb;
Croaghan-laodb;
Cruachan-ligean;
Druim-lighean;
Drumleene 		54°51′05″N 7°28′56″W
Clonmany Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 6th century by St Colmcille;
probably continuing after 1111		 Culmaine;
Cluain-maine 		55°15′41″N 7°24′39″W (approx)
Conwal Monastery Gaelic monks
founded in early 7th century;
erenaghs until early 17th century		 Conwall Monastery 54°56′31″N 7°46′58″W
Cnodain Monastery early monastic site[notes 1]
Culdaff Monastery early monastic site;
erenaghs to 16th-17th century		 Culdabhach;
Coldoch;
Cooledagh
Desertegny Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 6th century by St Colmcille;
erenaghs until after 1397		 Disert-eignigh 55°11′12″N 7°30′54″W (approx)
Domnach-mor-magene Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 5th century by St Patrick		 Domnachmormagene;
Domnach-mor-Mag-ene 		54°28′53″N 8°16′23″W (approx)
Donagh Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 5th century by St Patrick		 Carndonagh;
Domnach-mor-maig-tochair;
Domnach-mor-maig-glinne;
Domnach-morglinnetochair;
Domnachglinne Tochair;
Domnachglinne Tochuir 		55°15′00″N 7°16′20″W
Donaghmore Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 5th century by St Patrick for Dubudae;
possibly continuing after 1111;
desolated by 1179;
erenagh lands until 1609		 Domnach-mor-maige-itha;
Donagmore 		54°47′29″N 7°33′09″W
Donegal Friary Observant Franciscan Friars
founded 1474 (or 1473) by Aodh Rua (Hugh Rufus) O'Donnell, chief of Tirconnell, and his mother, Nuala O'Connor;
plundered and garrisoned by the English 1588;
English driven away by Red Hugh 1592;
repaired and re-occupied by 1600;
abandoned 1601;
dissolved 1601;
17th century place of refuge at Lough Eske;
removed to Rossnowlagh (extant); (NM)		 'Donegal Abbey' ;
Donegall;
Duin-na-gall;
Dunangall;
Dungallen 		[4]

54°39′02″N 8°06′56″W
Drumhome Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
possibly continuing after 1111;
erenaghs at least until c.1609		 Druim-thuoma;
Druim-tuama;
Drimholm;
Mullanacross 		54°35′59″N 8°08′33″W
Eskaheen Monastery early monastic site Iskaheen;
Uisce-chaoin;
Uskechaoin 		55°05′22″N 7°16′51″W (approx)
Fahan Monastery Gaelic monks
founded 6th century by St Colmcille;
possibly continuing after 10th century;
C.I. parochial church built on site 17th century, now ruined		 Fathen-mura;
Athan-mura;
Fothenmor;Othain-mor;
Faynwor;
Upper Fahan 		55°05′00″N 7°27′39″W
Gartan-Rath Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 521 by St Colmcille		 Garton;
Gartan;
Gortan 		55°00′56″N 7°54′31″W
Glencolumbkille Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 6th century by St Colmcille;
church on site demolished 1828;
C.I. parochial church built on site		 Glenn-choluim-chille;
Seinglean;
Senglend 		54°42′37″N 8°43′31″W
Grellagh Monastery early monastic site Greallach;
Templemoyle
Inishkeel Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded before c.580		 Inis Keel;
Inis-caoil;
Inis-coel 		54°50′51″N 8°27′17″W
Inis Saimer Monastery ~ purported monastic site, location given as island off St John's Point[notes 2] — island does not exist;
identified as Assaroe[notes 3] q.v.		 Ines Samer;
cf Assaroe 		54°30′03″N 8°12′01″W
Inver Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 6th century by St Náile of Kinawley;
in parochial use until 1807		 Inber-naile 54°38′49″N 8°16′50″W
Inver Friary ø purported Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular[notes 4]
Kilbarron Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 6th century by St Colmcille;
erenaghs until early 17th century		 Cell-barrainne;
Kilvanny 		54°32′05″N 8°12′58″W (approx)
Kilcar Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 6th century by St. Carthach		 Kilcartaich;
Cell-charthaigh;
Killen 		54°38′01″N 8°35′31″W (approx)
Killaghtee Monastery early monastic site, ruins of three churches;
erenagh land until 1609		 Cell-aedh-leacht
Killybegs Friary Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
founded c.1535–1540 by MacSwiny Bannagh;
dissolved c.1600;
Observant Franciscan Friars
place of refuge c.1641;
church in C.I. parochial use until 1829		 St. Catherine
____________________
Cell-beaga;Calebeg;
Colebeg;
Callobegg-Boylaugh;
Kilbeg 		54°38′07″N 8°27′00″W
Killybegs Monastery early monastic site;
erenaghs until 1609
Killydonnell Friary Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
founded 1471 by Calvagh O'Donnell, on grant of petition to the Pope by Franciscan brothers Dermit Idurnyn and Dermit Magillacsbuig;
dissolved c.1603; granted to Captain Basil Brooke		 Cell Ua dTomhrair;
Cell-ua-dtomhrair;
Kill-odtonaire;
Kill-O-Donel 		[5]

55°01′24″N 7°37′00″W
Kilmacrenan Friary Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
founded c.1537 by Manus O'Donnell on an early monastic site (see immediately below);
dissolved 1603		 Doire Eithne;
Cell-mic-Nenain;
Cell-mac-n-enain;
Cell-mic-creunain;
Kilmictrenain 		55°01′50″N 7°46′40″W
Kilmacrenan Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
possibly continuing after 1111;
site of Franciscan friary (see immediately above)
Kilmonaster Monastery Cistercian monks
founded c.1194 by E. O'Dogharty of Tirconnel;
dissolved before 1228: united to Assaroe presumably before 1228;
grange		 Kilfothuir;
Hilfothuir;
Kill-Fothuir;
Cillifori;
Kyfeire 		54°49′35″N 7°34′38″W
Leck Monastery early monastic site;
erenaghs until 1609[notes 5]		 Lackovenan;
Leac;
Liacc
Lough Derg Friary — Saints Island Augustinian Canons Regular
founded on Station Island (see immediately below) c.1130;
Franciscan Friars
founded before 1631		 54°36′56″N 7°53′07″W
Lough Derg Priory — Station Island
(see St Patrick's Purgatory)		 early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 5th century by St Patrick or St Dabeoc in the time of St Patrick;
Augustinian Canons Regular
dependent on Armagh, probably by St Malachy;
founded c.1130 (after 1134);
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian;
adopted after 1140;
plundered 1196 by an O'Cairin;
destroyed 1207 by Bratachas O'Boyle and M'Mahon;
transferred to Saints Island;
dissolved after 1600?		 St Debeog;
St Patrick
____________________
Finnloch;
Termon Dabeoc 		54°36′57″N 7°52′55″W
Lough Derg Monastery — Station Island Franciscan Friars
founded 1763;
dissolved 1781, passed to the clergy of the Diocese of Clogher		 [6]
Lough Eske Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual, place of refuge 17th century from Donegal
Magherabeg Friary Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular
founded after/c.1430 by Niall Garbh[notes 6] O'Donnell;[notes 7]
dissolved 1601		 An-macaire-beg;
Macairebeg;
Magherybeg 		54°38′29″N 8°07′03″W
Malin Monastery ø ancient church, purportedly monastic[notes 8] Mala
Mevagh Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks;
erenaghs to 1609;
remains of church and cross		 Midhbheach;
Midbech 		55°10′37″N 7°47′37″W
Moville Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks Domnachbile;
Magbile;
Norborgh 		55°11′17″N 7°02′26″W (approx)
Moyra Monastery, Ray site occupied by remains of a 16th-century church
Mukish Monastery ø purported monastic site - probably Ballymacswiney, q.v. Muckish
Racoon Monastery,
nr. Ballintra		 early monastic site, Patrician monks
founded c.440		 Raithcungi;
Raghcunga 		54°34′33″N 8°07′37″W (approx)
Raphoe Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded 6th century by St Colmcille;
possibly continuing after 1111;
episcopal diocesan cathedral built on site		 Raith-both [7]

54°52′14″N 7°36′14″W
Rashenny Monastery, in Inishowen purported early monastic site — confusion with Rath-eanich (Raymoghy, q.v.)
Rashenny Monastery, nr Killybegs Harbour purported early monastic site — confusion with Rathen, County Mayo[notes 9]
Rathmullan Priory Carmelite Friars
possibly founded 1403 and subsequently failed, or (refounded?) 1516 by Owen Roe MacSweeney (Mac Suine Fanagh);
plundered by Bingham 1595;
dissolved; granted to Sir James Fullerton; assigned to Sir Ralph Bingley;
rebuilt as a fortified house by Andrew Knox, Bishop of Raphoe, who had obtained the manor from Turlogh Oge Mac Sweeney; convent in existence c.1737		 St Mary
____________________
Rath-maonlain;
Rath-mullin;
Bath-Mullian;
Bochminon? 		55°05′40″N 7°32′11″W
Raymoghy Monastery Gaelic monks
possibly not continuing after 10th century		 54°56′35″N 7°37′54″W
Rossnowlagh Friary * Franciscan friars
founded 1946;
church and friary opened 1952;
extant		 [8]

54°32′49″N 8°12′23″W
Slieve League Monastery early monastic site, hermitage associated with St Aedh mac Bricc and St Assicus;
erenagh until at least 1609		 Sliab-liac
Taughboyne Monastery early monastic site, Gaelic monks
founded before 635/6 by St Fintan Munna		 Tech-baithin 54°56′25″N 7°31′35″W
Temple Douglas 54°58′05″N 7°52′12″W
Templecrone Monastery early monastic site;
erenaghs until at least 1609		 Tempall-croine
Temple Douglas Monastery early monastic site, purportedly founded 6th century by St Colmcille at church of St Cruithnechan, where he was baptised Tempall-dubglaise
Toghernegomarkie Monastery early monastic site;
erenagh lands until at least 1609		 Tochar-negomarkie;
Ballybogan
Tory Island Abbey #? early monastic site, Columban monks
traditionally founded 6th century by St Colmcille;
probably used as a regufe by religious orders during the reign of Elizabeth I;
ruined and plundered by George Bingham 1595 (NM)		 Torach;
Toraidhe;
Torre 		55°15′52″N 8°13′45″W (approx)
Tullaghobegley Monastery early monastic site, founded by an O'Begley;
erenaghs until 1609		 Tulach-an-bigli 55°06′18″N 8°05′27″W (approx)
Tullyfern Monastery early monastic site;
erenaghs until 1609		 Tulach-fionn
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Notes
  1. mentioned by Wm Cobbett
  2. Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.100
  3. L. A. Alemande, Monasticum Hibernicum, translated and edited by J. Stevens, 1722, p.204
  4. Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.100, citing J. Ware, De Hibernia, et Antiquitatibus, ejus, 1754 edition, however that source lists only Inver in County Antrim as Franciscan
  5. J. B. Leslie, Raphoe Clergy and Parishes, 1940, p.103
  6. Coll. de Rebus Hibernicis, BM, Add. MS. 4814, Sloane, f. 4
  7. J. Ware, De Hibernia, et Antiquitatibus, 1654 edition, p.186
  8. Mevyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.103
  9. given as County Donegal by Mervyn Archdall, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786, p.104

References
  1. "Ard Mhuire". Archived from the original on 2013-07-17. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  2. Carrowmore Monastic Site
  3. Clonca Monastic Site
  4. Carndonagh High Cross
  5. Killydonnell Friary
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-10. Retrieved 2014-12-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. WebCite query result
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2014-12-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

See also
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