Monasternagalliaghduff facts for kids
Monasternagalliaghduff is an old, ruined abbey in County Limerick, Ireland. Its name in Irish, Mainistir na gCailleach Dubh, means "Black Nuns' Abbey". It was also known as the Abbey of St Catherine de O'Conyl or simply Old Abbey. This abbey was once home to Augustinian nuns.
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Where is Monasternagalliaghduff Abbey?
The abbey sits in a small valley. It is about two miles east of a village called Shanagolden. The area around the abbey is now called Oldabbey, named after this very old building.
The Abbey's Story
This abbey is one of the oldest nunneries in Ireland. A nunnery is a place where nuns live and pray. The abbey was first written about in 1298. It was built on land given by a person named John FitzThomas of Connello. He passed away in 1261.
We do not have many details about its daily life. However, the abbey appears in old court and land papers for hundreds of years. In 1541, a big change happened. This was during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. During this time, many religious buildings in Ireland were closed down. This was part of the Reformation in Ireland, a major shift in religious practices. After it closed, the abbey's ruins and lands were bought and sold many times.
What the Abbey Looks Like Now
Today, you can still see parts of the old abbey. The church part is on the east side of the cloister. A cloister is an open space, usually with covered walkways around it. Next to the church are two small rooms. One of these is now called the Black Hag's Cell. It was probably a sacristy, a room where priests prepare for services.
To the south, you can find the refectory. This was the dining hall for the nuns. There is also a vaulted building to the west. A vaulted building has a curved roof. From the refectory, another building extends towards a stream. This might have been the kitchen. You can also see old walls and a gate. There are even signs of an old orchard, a fish pond, and a pigeon house.
The church and cloister walls seem to be from the same time period. Their windows suggest they were built in the 13th century. Later, in the 15th century, some changes were made to the church. A new east window was added, along with a doorway on the north side. You can still see traces of window decorations, columns, and a carved tombstone. Old records also mention that church items were found here in the late 1700s.
Old Stories and Legends
Like many old places, Monasternagalliaghduff Abbey has some interesting legends:
- One story says that the abbey was closed down by the Pope. This was because the last abbess, the head nun, supposedly practiced witchcraft. This was said to happen in a room south of the church, now called 'The Black Hag's Cell'. However, this story was likely made up. It might have been used to support the abbey's closure. Some people think the legend started if a nun stayed there after the abbey closed. Later, people might have misunderstood the old Irish words for "nun" as "black hag."
- Another legend tells of a fight between two powerful families, the Earl of Desmond and the Butlers. The Desmonds were running away from the nunnery. The Countess, the Earl's wife, was hurt by an arrow. The Earl thought she had died. He quickly buried her under the church altar. But she was still alive! People say her screams can still be heard echoing through the ruins today.
