Holywood Priory facts for kids

The Old Priory in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, is a very old place. It's where the ruins of a medieval monastery stand today. You can find it where High Street, Victoria Road, and Old Bangor Road meet. A monastery is a place where monks or nuns live and worship. This one was first started by a saint named Laiseran before the year 640.

A Look Back in Time

The Old Priory has a long and interesting history. Many things have happened on this site over the centuries.

Early Beginnings (7th Century)

A man named Laiseran, who later became a saint, started the first church and monastery here. He was the son of a local princess. Laiseran studied at a place called Bangor. After some time, he came back to Holywood to build this important religious site. There is a small question about the exact spot. It might have been at the current ruins or near a small hill by Brooke Street.

Viking Raids (10th Century)

Around the year 956, fierce warriors called the Vikings attacked this area. They often raided coastal towns and monasteries.

Building the Abbey (12th Century)

Later, in the 12th century, a new stone abbey was built. This was done by a person named Thomas Whyte. Most of the ruins you see today are from this time. This abbey belonged to the Augustinian Order, which was a specific group of monks.

After the Black Death (14th Century)

A terrible sickness called the Black Death spread across Europe between 1348 and 1350. After this time, a leader named Niall O’Neill helped fix up the church. It was then used by the Franciscan Order, another group of monks.

The Priory Closes (16th Century)

On New Year's Day in 1541, the priory was closed down. This happened because of King Henry VIII of England. He made many changes to churches and monasteries at that time. The land then went to the O’Neill family. Later, it was given to Sir James Hamilton.

The Tower (19th Century)

The tower you can see at the priory today was built much later, in 1806. At that time, this site was used as Holywood's Parish Church.

Who is Buried Here?

The graveyard next to the Old Priory is a final resting place for many people. Some notable individuals buried here include:

• Dr Robert Sullivan, who worked to improve education.
• Members of the Praeger family.
• The Dunville family, who were famous for making whiskey.
• Sir Joseph Larmor, a well-known mathematician.