Clontuskert Abbey facts for kids
| Prióireacht Naomh Mhuire, Cluain Tuaiscirt Uí Maine | |
nave doorway with carved saints
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 Location in Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
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| Other names | The Old Abbey; Cluain-tuaiskirt-ua-maine; Clontuskert-Omanny |
| Order | Arroasian Order |
| Established | c. 800; 1180 |
| Disestablished | 1550s; 1630 |
| Diocese | Clonfert |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Báedán |
| Architecture | |
| Status | ruined |
| Style | Late Gothic |
| Site | |
| Location | Abbeypark, Ballinasloe, County Galway |
| Coordinates | 53°16′58″N 8°12′57″W / 53.282663°N 8.215720°W |
| Visible remains | abbey church, cloister |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | Clontuskert Abbey |
| Reference no. | 461 |
Clontuskert Abbey, also known as The Priory of Saint Mary, is an old monastery in County Galway, Ireland. It was once home to Augustinian monks and is now a special National Monument, meaning it's protected because of its history.
Contents
Where is Clontuskert Abbey Located?
Clontuskert Abbey is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of a town called Ballinasloe. It is located near the Ballinure River, which flows into the Suck River.
The History of Clontuskert Priory
Early Beginnings of the Monastery
This site was first used as a monastery around the year 800 AD. It was founded by a saint named Boedan (also called Baedán or Baetan). At that time, this area was part of a kingdom known as Uí Maine.
It's important not to confuse this place with another old monastery called Cloontuskert. That one is near Lanesborough and was started by Saint Faithleach much earlier, in the 500s. Some local stories even say that Saint Boedan's first monastery might have been in a different spot nearby, at a place called Chapelpark.
Founding the Priory of St Mary
The Priory of St Mary was officially founded around 1180. It was built for a group of monks called the Canons Regular, who belonged to the Arroasian Order. A powerful local family, the Ó Ceallaigh family, helped to establish it.
The monastery was built with a special design called a claustral plan. This means the church and other buildings where the monks lived were built around a central open space, like a garden, called a garth.
Life at the Priory and Rebuilding
In 1379, a document called the Calendar of Papal Petitions mentions Clontuskert. It shows that a monk named Nicholas O’Quinaeych was allowed by Pope Urban VI to become the leader, or prior, of the monastery.
Sadly, the priory burned down in 1404. But it was quickly rebuilt! To help pay for the repairs, people who donated money were granted special indulgences. This meant their sins could be forgiven more easily. The beautiful main doorway on the west side of the church was built in 1471 as part of this rebuilding.
The O'Kelly family continued to have a lot of influence over who became the prior. In 1444, a prior named Breasal O'Kelly died during a battle. Later, in 1473, another prior, Donatus O'Kelly, faced serious accusations.
The End of the Priory
Clontuskert Priory was officially closed down in 1562. The land and buildings were then given to the Burke family. However, some monks continued to live there for a while, even until after 1637.
In 1918, the east wall of the church collapsed. But it was rebuilt in 1972, helping to preserve the ruins. Archaeologists also did excavations at the site between 1970 and 1972 to learn more about its past.
Exploring the Buildings of Clontuskert
The buildings at Clontuskert Priory had many important parts. These included the main church area, called the nave and chancel, and a special screen called a rood screen. There were also transepts, which are like arms extending from the main church.
The monks' living areas included a cloister (the covered walkway around the central garden), a chapter room (where they met), a sacristy (where church items were kept), and cellars. There was even an oven and a special room with a vaulted ceiling in the southeast part of the building.
The Great West Doorway Carvings
The main entrance, known as the great west doorway, is very special. It has many detailed carvings that tell stories.
You can see Michael the Archangel holding a sword and scales. He is shown weighing souls, which is a symbol of judgment. There are also carvings of important saints like Augustine of Hippo, Catherine of Alexandria, and John the Baptist.
Other interesting carvings include a pelican feeding its young. This is a symbol of sacrifice. You can also spot a pair of griffins, which are mythical creatures with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
One of the most famous carvings is a mermaid holding a mirror. This mermaid carving is similar to one found at Clonfert Cathedral. The doorway itself also looks a lot like the one at Clonmacnoise, another famous Irish monastic site.
An inscription on the doorway reads: "MATHEV DEI GRA EPS CLONFERTENS ET PATRE ONEACDAVAYN CANONIE ESTI DOMINE FI FECERT ANO DO MCCCCLXXI". This means "Matthew by the Grace of God, Bishop of Clonfert, and Patrick O’Naughton, canon of this house, caused me to be made in 1471." The bishop mentioned was Matthaeus Mág Raith, who was the only Augustinian monk to become the Bishop of Clonfert.
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Mermaid carving
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A Stoup with carvings of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (with a wheel) and Augustine of Hippo.
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The north transept of the church.
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The arches of the cloister.
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An IHC monogram, a symbol for Jesus.
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The vaulted rood gallery.
Clontuskert in Books
Clontuskert Abbey is mentioned in a novel called Galway Bay (2011) by Mary Pat Kelly. It also appears in Lina Callejon’s novel "Ien Seu: El Camino" (Editorial Círculo Rojo).
See also
In Spanish: Clontuskert para niños
