Killone Abbey Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Killone Abbey

Religion
Affiliation	Augustinian Pre-Reformation Catholic
Location
Location in Ireland
Architecture
Groundbreaking	founded c.1189 (or monks founded 1120)
Materials	sandstone
Website
http://www.newhall.ie

Killone Abbey (in Irish: Mainistir Chill Eoin) is an old abbey, or monastery, located in Killone, about 5 kilometres south of Ennis in County Clare, Ireland. It was founded in 1190 by Donal Mor O'Brien, who was a powerful king of Thomond and Munster.

The abbey was dedicated to Saint John and was home to a group of nuns called Canonesses Regular. It sits right by the beautiful Killone Lake. Today, Killone Abbey is mostly in ruins, but you can still see parts of the old church. There's also a crypt, which is an underground room often used for burials. You can even climb a narrow stone stairway to see a view of the grounds.

Exploring Killone Abbey
- Inside the Abbey Ruins
Saint John's Holy Well
- History of the Well's Altar
- Pilgrim's Road and Traditions
Visiting the Abbey
- Public Access Information
Local Stories and Legends
- Mysterious Lights and Mermaids
- The Mermaid's Curse
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Killone Abbey

The ruins of Killone Abbey are found on the land of Newhall House and Estate. This land is often used for grazing cattle. When you visit, you can explore the remains of the abbey church.

Inside the Abbey Ruins

Inside the church ruins, you can find a narrow stone stairway. This stairway is located between where the altar used to be and the east window. It leads up to a ledge on top of the remains of the south wall. From here, you can get a good view of the abbey grounds.

Saint John's Holy Well

Near Killone Abbey, there is a special place called St John's Well. This is a holy well with an altar. It is located to the northeast of where the nuns' living area used to be.

History of the Well's Altar

An old inscription tells us that the altar at St John's Well was last fixed in 1731. This repair was done by a merchant from Ennis named Anthony Roche. On top of the altar, you can see several "cursing stones." These stones were traditionally used by pilgrims to help them count their rounds or prayers at the well.

Pilgrim's Road and Traditions

There is a path called the Pilgrim's Road that connects this holy site to Ennis town. People would walk this road as part of their pilgrimage. Even though the nunnery itself is not part of the well rounds, the well is still a place of tradition. Each year in June, the local church parish holds an outdoor mass here.

Visiting the Abbey

Killone Abbey is considered a National Monument in Ireland. This means it is protected by the government. The Office of Public Works helps to look after it.

Public Access Information

Even though it's a national monument, the abbey is on private land. It is part of the Newhall Estate, which is owned by the Commane family. Because of this, whether you can visit the site depends on the owners. They decide when and how the public can access the abbey.

Local Stories and Legends

Like many old places, Killone Abbey has its own interesting stories and legends. These tales have been passed down through generations.

Mysterious Lights and Mermaids

People have reported seeing mysterious "corpse lights" in the ruins of Killone Abbey. These lights are also said to appear in other old graveyards in County Clare. Killone Lake is also part of a famous local story about a mermaid. The legend says that an O'Brien family member once captured a mermaid from the lake.

The Mermaid's Curse

The mermaid was kept at their home for a while. But one day, a foolish person tried to make her speak by throwing boiling water at her. The mermaid quickly ran back to the lake. As she left, she made a powerful vow, which became a curse for the O'Brien family:

“As the return of the salmon from the stream,

A return without blood or flesh,

May such be the departure of the O’Briens,
Like ears of wild corn from Killone.”

Soon after this curse, the O'Briens left Killone. They never owned the land again.