Mungret Abbey facts for kids
| Mainistir Mhungairit | |
Mungret Abbey
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 Location in Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Moungairid, Cathair Dheocain Neasán |
| Order | Canons Regular of Saint Augustine (some time in the 12th century) |
| Established | before 551 |
| Diocese | Limerick |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Saint Neasan |
| Architecture | |
| Status | ruined |
| Style | Norman |
| Site | |
| Location | Baunacloka/Dromdarrig, Dooradoyle, County Limerick |
| Coordinates | 52°38′04″N 8°40′32″W / 52.634306°N 8.675514°W |
| Public access | no |
| Official name | Mungret Church Three Churches |
| Reference no. | 85 |
Mungret Abbey is a really old monastery and a special National Monument in County Limerick, Ireland. It's a place with a long history, dating back to ancient times.
Contents
Where is Mungret Abbey?
Mungret Abbey is found just west of Dooradoyle. It's also northeast of Mungret College. This historic site is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) southwest of Limerick city center. It sits to the south of the Shannon Estuary.
A Look Back: Mungret Abbey's History
Mungret was an early monastic site. It was started before the year 551 AD. A person named Saint Nessan (also called Neasán) the Deacon founded it. At one point, there might have been as many as 1,500 monks living there. They even had six churches working at the same time! These churches would try to attract followers. Sometimes, they offered free bread and salted fish. This was to get people to come to their special ceremonies. The first Thursday of every month was a day for building good habits. Monks were encouraged to chant for their supper after praying.
In the year 908, Cormac mac Cuilennáin, who was the King of Munster, gave the abbey a special gift. He gave them three ounces of gold and a fancy satin chasuble (a type of robe).
Sadly, Vikings attacked and robbed the monastery four times in the 800s. Later, in 1107, the High King Domnall Ua Lochlainn destroyed the monastery.
Mungret tried to become a bishop's main church in 1152. But it was thought to be too close to Limerick. In 1179, the king of Munster, Domnall Mór Ua Briain, gave the monastery to Brictius, who was the Bishop of Limerick.
Mungret then became a parish church. This church was built between 1251 and 1272. It was run by the Augustinian Canons Regular.
The Mungret Abbey church was used by the Church of Ireland until 1822. The building was made bigger in the 1400s. The tower, where the priest lived, was added during this time. A bell was found nearby at Loghmore. It was called the Bell of Mungret.
Exploring the Buildings
Mungret Abbey Church
This church is located on the western side of the group of buildings. It has a nave (the main part of the church) and a chancel (the area near the altar). There is also a square tower at the western end.
Old Mungret Church
This is a small, rectangular church. It was built before the Normans arrived, so it's very old. It has three small windows. This church is no newer than the 1100s. It has a doorway with a lintel (a stone beam above the door) and sloped jambs (the side posts of the doorway). This doorway leads into the nave, which is the oldest part of the church.
St. Nessan's Church
This church is also known as the Monastery Church. You can find it on the northern side of the group. It was built around the 1100s. It is rectangular with tall, pointed gables (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof). It has a lintelled doorway on the west side. There is also a small, round-headed window on the east side.
