Killagha Abbey facts for kids
The remaining ruins of Killagha Abbey
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Augustinians |
| Established | c.1216 |
| Disestablished | 1576 |
| Diocese | Diocese of Ardfert |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Geoffrey de Marisco |
| Important associated figures | Saint Colman Walter Spring |
| Site | |
| Location | Milltown, County Kerry, Ireland |
Killagha Abbey of Our Lady of Bello Loco, also known as Kilcolman Abbey, is a very old ruined abbey in County Kerry, Ireland. It was once a home for Augustinian monks. The abbey is located about one and a half miles north-west of Milltown. It sits right by the River Maine.
Contents
The Story of Killagha Abbey
How It All Began
Killagha Abbey was built around the year 1216. It was actually built on the site of an even older monastery. That first monastery was started by Saint Colman. This is why the abbey is sometimes called Kilcolman, which means "Church of Colman."
The abbey was founded by Geoffrey de Marisco. He was an important Anglo-Norman nobleman. An Anglo-Norman was a person from England with Norman roots. Geoffrey was given a lot of land in Munster by King John of England. The abbey was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Monks called Canons Regular of the Order of St Augustine lived there.
A Rich and Important Place
Killagha Abbey was a very wealthy place. It owned a lot of land all over Munster. The head of the abbey, called the Prior, was even a member of the Irish House of Lords. This was like being part of the government's parliament. In 1302, Killagha Abbey paid the third highest amount of tax in the Diocese of Ardfert.
In the 1400s, a large east window was added to the abbey. Many people came to Killagha Abbey as pilgrims. A pilgrim is someone who travels to a holy place. The abbey was known for its beautiful location. This is why it was called 'Bello Loco', which means "beautiful place."
The Abbey Closes Down
The abbey was closed in 1576. This happened during a time called the Reformation in Ireland. During the Reformation, many monasteries and abbeys in Ireland were closed by the Crown. The Crown refers to the ruling monarch, in this case, the English king or queen.
Killagha Abbey was far from Dublin. This meant it was closed later than most other abbeys in Ireland. However, it was close to a fort at Castlemaine. This fort was important during the Desmond Rebellions. These were big fights between Irish lords and the English Crown. Because of this, the Crown noticed Killagha Abbey and ordered it to be closed.
New Owners and Big Changes
After the abbey was taken by the Crown, its buildings and land were rented out. First, they were rented to Thomas Clinton. He was an officer for Queen Elizabeth I in County Kerry.
Then, in 1588, the Crown gave the abbey and its land to Captain Thomas Spring of Castlemaine. He was a Protestant nobleman. He had fought well during the Desmond Rebellions. The Crown even added a special rule. It said that the abbey's living areas should be rebuilt like a castle. This was so the building could be used for defense.
Captain Thomas Spring's grandson, also named Walter Spring, was raised as a Roman Catholic. He fought in the Irish Rebellion of 1641. Because of this, the abbey was attacked. An army loyal to Oliver Cromwell attacked it during the Irish Confederate Wars. The fortified buildings were destroyed by cannons. The church was also partly damaged.
After the rebellion was stopped, most of Walter Spring's land was taken by Oliver Cromwell. Walter was even called 'The Unfortunate'. Killagha Abbey was then given to a soldier named Major John Godfrey. Even when Charles II became king, the land stayed with Major Godfrey's family.
What Remains Today
With its main house destroyed, Killagha Abbey was no longer used as a home. Some of its stones were taken to build other houses nearby. The abbey church slowly fell apart and became a ruin. For the next 300 years, the land around the church was used as a cemetery.
Today, the ruins of Killagha Abbey are protected. They are known as the Kilcolman Burial Ground. It's a quiet place where you can see the remains of a once-important abbey.
