Clare Island Abbey, officially St. Brigid's Abbey, is a former Cistercian monastery and National Monument located in Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland.[1][2]
Mainistir Chliara | |
 Abbey viewed from the northeast | |
  Location within Ireland | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | St. Brigid's Abbey, Mainister-ni-clarch; Cliara; Cleara; Clara; Insula Maris; Oilen-ui-maile |
| Order | Cistercians |
| Established | 12th century |
| Disestablished | 17th century |
| Mother house | Knockmoy Abbey |
| Diocese | Tuam |
| Architecture | |
| Status | inactive |
| Style | Cistercian |
| Site | |
| Location | Lecarrow, Clare Island, County Mayo |
| Coordinates | 53°47′36″N 9°59′21″W / 53.793229°N 9.989088°W |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | Clare Island Abbey |
| Reference no. | 97 |
Location
Clare Island Abbey is located in the centre of the south part of Clare Island, near the post office.[3]
History
Saint Bridget`s Abbey was founded in the 12th/13th century and in 1224 became a cell of Knockmoy Abbey, a Cistercian abbey near Tuam.[citation needed]
It was rebuilt c. 1460. It contains numerous tombs of the local ruling family, the Ó Máille (O'Malley) and tradition claims it as the site of the baptism, marriages and burial of Gráinne "Grace" O'Malley (c. 1530 – c. 1603), the famous "pirate queen." She is believed to have been interred at the O'Malley tomb which has a canopy.[citation needed]
The abbey was probably dissolved during the late 16th century. Later it was a place of refuge for Carmelite Friars.[citation needed]
Building
The abbey is furnished with piscina, sedilia, carved heads and ogee and cusp-headed lancet windows.[4][5]
Clare Island Abbey contains a series of medieval wall and ceiling paintings. They depict mythical, human and animal figures including dragons, a cockerel, stags, men on foot and on horseback, a harper, birds and trees. Such ornamentation is unusual for a Cistercian foundation.[6]