St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin facts for kids
| Mainistir Mhuire | |
St Marys' Abbey - axonometric model on urban quarter
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 Location in Central Dublin
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Order of Saint Benedict (846–1139) Congregation of Savigny (1139–1147) Cistercian Order (1147–1539) |
| Established | AD 846 |
| Disestablished | 1539 |
| Dedicated to | Mary, mother of Jesus |
| Diocese | Dublin |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid |
| Abbot | Walter Champfleur (c.1468-99), John Orum (1499-?) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional Status | Museum |
| Heritage designation | National Monument |
| Style | Cistercian |
| Site | |
| Location | Abbey Street, Dublin, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°20′51″N 6°16′09″W / 53.3475°N 6.269167°W |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | St. Mary's Abbey |
| Reference no. | 401 |
St. Mary's Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Mhuire) was an important abbey located near Abbey Street and Capel Street in Dublin, Ireland. An abbey is a type of monastery where monks or nuns live and work. St. Mary's Abbey was once a very powerful and wealthy place.
The abbey owned a lot of land, stretching from a part of Dublin called Oxmanstown all the way along the River Liffey to the sea. It also had large properties in other parts of Ireland. The abbey was like its own small area, called a "liberty," which meant it had special rights and rules over its lands. These liberties were common in Dublin after the Anglo-Normans arrived in the 1100s.
Contents
The Abbey's Long History
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St. Mary's Abbey was first built in 846 AD by an Irish king named Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid. It started as a home for Benedictine monks.
In 1139, a special church leader called Malachy O'Morga, who worked for the Pope, gave the abbey to a group of monks from Savigny. These monks later joined the Cistercian order in 1147.
Fires and Rebuilding
In 1303, a big fire badly damaged parts of the abbey and its church. But the monks quickly rebuilt it. Sadly, many important city records and court papers stored at the abbey were lost in the fire. At this time, St. Mary's Abbey was one of the biggest and richest abbeys in all of Ireland.
The Irish Parliament gave the abbey even more special rights. For example, they could claim goods from shipwrecks along the Dublin coast. They could also manage their lands in areas controlled by Irish people who were not friendly to the English rulers, without getting into trouble.
Attacks and Rebellions
In 1316, the Mayor of Dublin, Robert de Nottingham, attacked the abbey. He suspected that a powerful leader, Richard Óg de Burgh, the Earl of Ulster, was helping Edward Bruce. Edward Bruce was a Scottish leader who was trying to take over Ireland. Some of de Burgh's men were hurt, and he was captured. Because the monks were thought to be helping Bruce, the abbey was damaged.
In 1534, a famous rebellion started right in the abbey's Chapter House. A young Irish nobleman named Silken Thomas threw down his Sword of State there, which was a sign that he was rebelling against the English king.
Important Leaders at the Abbey
One important leader of the abbey was Walter Champfleur. He became the Abbot of St. Mary's in 1467 and stayed in charge for over 30 years. He was a very important political figure. He was a close advisor to a powerful nobleman, Thomas Butler, the Earl of Ormond. Walter Champfleur was known as a wise and learned man. He passed away around 1498.
From Abbey to Arsenal
In 1539, the English king, Henry VIII, closed down many monasteries in Ireland, including St. Mary's Abbey. This event is known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
After this, the abbey's buildings were given to a man named John Travers. The church part of the abbey was turned into a place to store weapons, an arsenal. Parts of it were also used as a quarry, meaning stones were taken from it for other buildings. The large lands that the monks once owned were later rented out to people who wanted to build homes or businesses.
A Private Home and Building Materials
In 1619, King James I of England gave the abbey and its lands to Sir Gerald Moore. His family, the Moores, used the abbey as their home in Dublin until the late 1600s. Henry Moore, the first Earl of Drogheda, who was part of this family, built a large house on what is now O'Connell Street. He also helped develop nearby streets like Henry Street and Moore Street.
In 1676, stones from the abbey's ruins were used to build a bridge called Essex Bridge. Today, this bridge is known as Grattan Bridge.
Other Uses of the Abbey Site
Over time, different groups used parts of the old abbey land.
- Chapels: Two non-conformist chapels were built on the site. Meeting House Lane, a street nearby, got its name from one of these chapels.
- Synagogue: From 1836 to 1892, a Jewish synagogue operated on part of the old abbey site. It was located at 12 Mary's Abbey.
- Cemetery: The old monastic lands of Glasnevin, which once belonged to the abbey, were bought around 1832. These lands were used to create what is now Glasnevin Cemetery, a very famous cemetery in Dublin.
Rediscovering the Abbey
For many years, the abbey was mostly forgotten and buried. In the 1880s, an amateur archaeologist rediscovered the abbey's remains, about 7 feet (2 meters) underground, beneath a bakery. His discoveries were shared with the public by a historian named John Thomas Gilbert.
Today, you can still see parts of the old abbey walls. The site is now looked after by Heritage Ireland. The Chapter House, where important meetings were held, is usually open for visitors. You go down a stone staircase to see it.
Recent Discoveries
In 2023, during excavations for a new hotel, the remains of over 100 skeletons were found on the site. These skeletons are very old, dating back to the early 11th century.
In 2014, Trinity College Dublin bought a special handwritten book, called a manuscript, that was made at the abbey in 1304. They paid almost €250,000 for it!
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Dublin)
Images for kids
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Crosses at Glasnevin Cemetery
