Muckross Abbey

Muckross Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Locha Léin and Mainistir Mhucrois) is one of the major ecclesiastical sites found in the Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary for the Observantine Franciscans by Donal McCarthy Mor.[1]

Muckross Abbey
The abbey in the 1890s

It has had a violent history and has been damaged and reconstructed many times. The friars were often subjected to raids by marauding groups and were persecuted by Cromwellian forces under Lord Ludlow.[2] Today the abbey is largely roofless although, apart from this, is generally quite well preserved. Its most striking feature is a central courtyard, which contains a large yew tree and is surrounded by a vaulted cloister.[3]

Ground plan of Muckross Abbey

In the 17th and 18th centuries, it became the burial place for prominent County Kerry poets O'Donoghue, Ó Rathaille and Ó Súilleabháin, while Piaras Feiritéar is buried in the graveyard just outside..[4]

  • The Friary
  • Abbey and graveyard seen from the west
  • Courtyard with cloister and yew tree.
  • Refectory

See also

References
  1. "Killarney National Park". 2016-03-23. Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  2. "Dan the Feathers - Killarney Ireland". www.vacationkillarney.com. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  3. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Volume 2. 1892.
  4. "Sightseeing - Visitor Attractions in Killarney". killarney-insight.com. Retrieved 2018-07-12.

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