Dunbrody Abbey facts for kids
South-east view of the living quarters, the tower, and the choir
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Cistercians |
| Established | 1182 |
| Disestablished | 1536 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Hervey de Monte Marisco, Marshal of our Lord the King in Ireland and Senechal of Richard de Clare, Second Earl of Pembroke (Strongbow) |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Ruin |
| Site | |
| Location | Dunbrody, County Wexford, Ireland |
| Public access | Yes |
| Official name | Dunbrody Abbey |
| Reference no. | 192 |
Dunbrody Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Dhún Bróithe) is an old Cistercian monastery in County Wexford, Ireland. A monastery is a place where monks live and pray. The church here is shaped like a cross. It was built in the 1200s. A tall tower was added in the 1400s.
At 59 meters long, the church was one of the longest in Ireland. Today, you can visit the abbey. There is a visitor center run by the current Marquess of Donegall. It even has one of only two full-sized hedge mazes in Ireland, which is a fun challenge!
The abbey was closed down by King Henry VIII. This happened when he separated from the Church of Rome. The last leader of Dunbrody Abbey was Alexander Devereux. He later became a bishop in 1539.
Contents
Discovering Dunbrody Abbey's Past
How Dunbrody Abbey Began
In 1169, knights from England and France, called Anglo-Normans, came to Ireland. They were led by King Dermot MacMurrough. They took over the area of Leinster first. By 1171, King Henry II of England arrived with a larger army. He took control of all of Ireland.
Richard de Clare, an important Norman leader, asked his uncle to build a Cistercian monastery. His uncle, Herve de Montmorency, gave land in County Wexford for this purpose. The land was first offered to an abbey in England. But they said no after seeing the land.
Then, the land was offered to St. Mary's Cistercian Abbey in Dublin. The monks there were very happy with the gift. In 1182, they sent a group of monks to start the new monastery.
Why Dunbrody Abbey Was Important
Dunbrody Abbey was built near a busy sea route. So, it was named Port of St. Mary’s. This name showed that the abbey offered safety to travelers. It was a place of peace and help.
The middle of the 1200s was a good time for the Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland. The Cistercian monks also did very well. The large and beautiful buildings at Dunbrody show how successful they were. The church was built around 1210–1240.
Dunbrody was a smaller abbey, but it was very successful. This lasted until the 1500s.
The Abbey's Closure and Decline
King Henry VIII decided to close down many monasteries. This was part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Dunbrody Abbey was among the first to be closed in Ireland. It officially shut down in 1536.
The abbey was damaged and made unsuitable for monks. The lead from the roof was even melted down. Nine years later, a man named Sir Osborne Ichyngham received the land. He turned the monastery into his home.
Over time, the private owners did not take good care of Dunbrody. On Christmas Eve in 1852, a large part of the church collapsed. The south wall and some other parts were destroyed. The abbey has been in ruins ever since.
Exploring Dunbrody Abbey's Design
Church Layout
The church at Dunbrody is shaped like a cross. This was common for Cistercian abbeys. It has a main area called the nave. On the sides are side aisles. There are also north and south transepts, which are the arms of the cross. The choir is where the monks sang.
There were rooms built in the roof above the chapels. Each transept had three chapels. One room above the north transept could be reached by a round staircase. There is also proof that a floor once covered the entire north transept.
The space above the south transept chapels had a fireplace and five windows. Above that, there was another floor. This floor probably had two rooms, as it had two fireplaces and five windows.
The nave was separated from the aisles by an arcade. This was a row of five arches. In the north aisle, there are four large buttresses. These are strong supports that helped keep the wall standing. The south arcade and wall fell during a storm in 1852.
The nave got light from windows high up, called clerestory windows. There were also three large windows at the west end.
The bell tower has a very interesting design. Cistercian rules did not allow towers at first. But this rule changed later. At Dunbrody, new supports were built next to the old ones. This made the tower very stable.
There were seven bells in the tower. You can see seven openings for the bell ropes. There was also a large square opening. This was used to lift the bells up into the tower.
Monastery Buildings
East of the cloister (an open courtyard) and south of the church were other buildings. These included the sacristy and a room next to it. There was also a small room with a door from the cloister walk. This room was likely a book storage area. Monks would keep books here to read in the cloisters.
Further south were more rooms, including the parlour and chapter room. Above all these rooms were the dormitories, where the monks slept. They could reach these rooms by stairs from the south transept.
In the southern part of the buildings, you can see where the refectory (dining hall) was. There is a spot for a reader's desk at one of the windows. The eastern end of this area was probably the calefactory, or warming house. The western end likely held the butteries (food storage) and kitchen. Digging in the cloister courtyard has shown the foundations of the lavabo. This was a washing area, usually near the dining hall.
Dunbrody Abbey Today
Sir Osborne Ichyngham's great-great-grandson, John, started building Dunbrody Castle. This was a strong house, but it was never fully finished. His daughter, Jane, married Arthur Chichester, 2nd Earl of Donegall. This is how the property came into the Chichester family.
Today, the abbey has a visitor center. It was opened by the Earl of Belfast. You can find brochures about other local tourist spots. There is also a craft shop where you can buy souvenirs.
Gallery
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North arcade showing three of the four large buttresses that have preserved the wall
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Buildings east of cloister garth
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Underside of the floor of bell tower
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Foundations of lavabo
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Wexford)
