Hore Abbey facts for kids
| Mainistir Iubhair | |
Hore Abbey from the path towards it
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 Location in Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Hoare Abbey St Mary's |
| Order | Cistercians |
| Established | 1270 |
| Disestablished | 1540 |
| Diocese | Cashel and Emly |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Archbishop David Mac Cerbaill |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Inactive |
| Heritage designation | National Monument of Ireland (#127) |
| Style | Cistercian |
| Site | |
| Location | Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°31′03″N 7°54′00″W / 52.5175°N 7.9°W |
| Public access | Yes |
| Official name | Hore Abbey |
| Reference no. | 127 |
Hore Abbey (also known as Hoare Abbey or St Mary's) is the ruined remains of an old Cistercian monastery in Ireland. It is located near the famous Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary. Monasteries were places where monks lived, worked, and prayed together. Today, you can visit the ruins and imagine what life was like there centuries ago.
Contents
The Story of Hore Abbey
The name 'Hore' likely comes from an old Irish word, 'iubhair', which means 'yew tree'. Hore Abbey was first a Benedictine monastery. However, in 1270, Archbishop David Mac Cerbaill gave it to the Cistercians. The Cistercians were a different group of monks. Archbishop Mac Cerbaill later joined the monastery himself. He was buried there in 1289.
He gave the Abbey many gifts. These included land, mills, and other valuable things. Some stories say he kicked out the Benedictine monks. This was supposedly after a dream that they would harm him. However, this story is probably not true. It more likely came from the Archbishop's disagreements with the people of Cashel. He often clashed with local leaders and even other bishops.
Key Dates in Hore Abbey's History
- 1269: Archbishop David Mac Cerbaill decided to follow the Cistercian rules. He remained the Archbishop of Cashel.
- 1270: The Abbey was officially founded. It was the last Cistercian monastery built in Ireland before they were closed down.
- 1540: Hore Abbey was closed. Its property was given to James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond. The monks continued to serve the local community. The buildings were later used as private homes.
- 1561: Queen Elizabeth I granted the lands to Sir Henry Radcliffe.
Unique Architecture of Hore Abbey
Hore Abbey is special among Irish Cistercian monasteries. Its cloister (a covered walkway where monks walked and prayed) is on the north side. Most Cistercian monasteries have their cloister on the south side. This unusual design might be because the Rock of Cashel is very close to the north.
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Tipperary)
Sources
- Breen, Aidan "Mac Cerbaill (MacCarwell), David" Cambridge Dictionary of Irish Biography
- Otway-Ruthven, A. J. A History of Medieval Ireland Barnes and Noble reissue New York 1993
