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Grey Abbey, Down facts for kids

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Grey Abbey
An Mhainistir Liath
Grey Abbey - Ards.jpg
Monastery information
Order Cistercian
Established 1193
People
Founder(s) Affreca de Courcy
Architecture
Status Inactive
Site
Public access Yes

Grey Abbey (which means An Mhainistir Liath in Irish) is a really old, ruined Cistercian priory in Greyabbey, County Down, Northern Ireland. It's like a cool historical site! Today, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency looks after it. It's a special monument that the government protects. You can find it in the area called Rosemount, right on the edge of Greyabbey village.

A Glimpse into Grey Abbey's Past

Grey Abbey was built a very long time ago, in the year 1193. It was founded by a powerful woman named Affreca de Courcy. She was the wife of John de Courcy, a famous knight. Imagine what life was like when this abbey was first built!

Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (1899) (14784714442)
Plan of the abbey, drawn in 1874.

Exploring the Abbey Today

Even though Grey Abbey is a ruin now, you can still see many parts of the old buildings. You can walk around and imagine the monks who lived and prayed here centuries ago. It's a great place to learn about history and see ancient architecture.

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