Bective Abbey facts for kids
| Mainistir Bheigthí | |
 |
|
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Cistercian |
| Established | 1147 |
| Disestablished | c.1530 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Murchad O'Maeil-Sheachlainn |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Inactive |
| Site | |
| Public access | Yes |
| Official name | Bective Abbey |
| Reference no. | 187 |
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Bective Abbey (also known as Mainistir Bheigthí in Irish) is an old Cistercian abbey. It sits by the River Boyne in Bective, County Meath, Ireland.
An abbey is a special type of monastery where monks or nuns live. This abbey was started way back in 1147. Most of the buildings you see today were built much later, in the 1400s.
The Irish government bought the abbey and its land in 2012. Now, the Office of Public Works looks after it. Bective Abbey is a very important historical site. It includes an old church from the early 1200s, a cloister from the 1400s, and a tower from the 1500s. It is protected as a National Monument.
Contents
What is Bective Abbey?
Bective Abbey was a home for Cistercian monks. These monks followed strict rules and lived simple lives. They spent their days praying, working, and studying.
The abbey was like a small village. It had a church, living areas for the monks, a kitchen, and a dining hall. The cloister, a covered walkway, was a quiet place for monks to walk and think.
History of Bective Abbey
How Bective Abbey Began
Bective Abbey was founded in 1147. A man named Murchad O'Maeil-Sheachlainn started it. It was a "daughter house" of Mellifont Abbey. This means Mellifont Abbey helped to set up Bective.
Monasteries like Bective were important centers. They were places of learning and farming. They also played a big part in local communities.
Changes Over Time
In the 1530s, big changes happened in Ireland. The king decided to close many monasteries. This event was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Bective Abbey was taken over by the state.
After this, the abbey lands were rented out. Later, in 1552, a man named Andrew Wyse bought them. The old abbey buildings were even partly turned into a large house in the 1600s.
Bective Abbey Today
Today, Bective Abbey is cared for by the Irish government. It is a protected historical site. In the early 2000s, archaeologists dug up parts of the abbey. This helped us learn more about its past.
Now, the abbey is easier for visitors to explore. You can walk around the ruins and imagine what life was like for the monks centuries ago. It's a great place to learn about Irish history.
Gallery
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Column
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Side of Bective Abbey
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Arch at the Abbey
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Cloisters
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland, (County Meath)
