ABBEYS AND CROSSES

Take a tour of some of South Tipperary’s religious relics – some dating back as far as the 12th century.

Historic Abbeys
Founded by the King of Munster in 1182, Kilcooley Abbey is a large Irish Cistercian abbey situated between Glengoole and Urlingford (off route R690). Built in honour of the Virgin Mary and St. Benedict, the Abbey was almost completely burnt down in 1445. During the subsequent reconstruction, the church lost its two aisles and gained a new north transept and tower. By the mid 16th century the property had been transferred to James Butler, Earl of Ormond. A later owner, Sir William Barker, added a summer-home to the grounds in 1840. The Abbey is of great interest for its well-preserved architectural features.

Worth a detour if you’re visiting the Rock of Cashel is Hore Abbey – a ruined Cistercian monastery. A gift to the Cistercians by Archbishop David MacCearbhaill (in 1270), the Abbey was once the subject of much controversy. The widely-disliked Archbishop was said to have evicted its original Benedictine occupants after dreaming that they were plotting against him. Today, the Abbey is a well-loved regional relic.

Athassel Priory is a monastic ruin situated on the western bank of the river Suir. It was once the site of a 12th century Augustinian priory. Although now largely ruined, parts of the original building remain intact, including an entrance bridge, a gatehouse, and a carved doorway.

Dating back to the 12th century, Cahir Abbey is a nicely preserved Augustinian abbey that belonged to the Order of the Canons Regular. The Abbey, which formerly occupied a site of more than 100 acres, retains some interesting features – including a 70ft central residential tower, chancel, interior mouldings, and a row of 15th century windows. The Abbey was used for more than 400 years, and is currently undergoing a programme of restoration.

Located near Galbally, Moor Abbey was founded by Donough Cairbreach O'Brien, King of Thomond, for the Franciscans in the 13th century. It is a simple church with a bloody history – construction began in 1471, but suffered setbacks when it was burned down in the following year. After the suppression of the monasteries in 1541, the church was sold to John of Desmond, and then set alight once more in 1569 by Sir Humphrey Gilbert's horsemen. The friars who had stayed on were massacred in 1570. The remaining building is a simple nave-and-chancel church with a tall slender tower which contains a sedilia and some windows.

Fethard Abbey (or the Augustinian Friary), founded in 1303, is a Holy Trinity Church and, although it was originally built outside the Fethard town walls, the ruin later became enclosed by sections of the mediaeval town walls.

Between Clonmel and Callan, Kilcash Church & Graveyard is a delightful, rural church with a romanesque doorway. It was here that many of the Butlers of Kilcash were interred.

Historic Crosses
Ahenny High Crosses can be found in a graveyard in the village of Ahenny – a 7km drive from Carrick-on-Suir, on the R697 route. The North (3.13m)and South Cross (3.9m) are more than 1,000 years old. They’re impressively carved from stone with intricate, Celtic designs. They were made to imitate earlier wooden crosses, which would have been encased with a metal binding; the stone bosses imitate the studs which would have covered the rivets that held the metal and wooden crosses together.

The 9th Century St Patrick High Cross is located at the Rock of Cashel. Legend says that St Patrick once stuck his staff into the ground here – so the cross was designed to commemorate him, with a depiction of St Patrick on one side and the crucifixion on the other.

Also erected for our patron saint, St. Patrick's Well Cross can be found in Marlfield, Clonmel. The site includes a small celtic cross, ruins of a tiny chapel, and holy well – a popular pilgrimage destination.

Emly St Ailbe Cross, in Emly churchyard, is the ancient cross of St Ailbe, who died in 527AD. Toureen Peakaun Crosses and Slabs, located in the Glen of Aherlow, comprise a number of crosses and early Christian cross slabs that stand around the 12th Century church of St.Beccan. Features include a flat-headed doorway, and two unusual decorated windows.