Errew Abbey

Errew Abbey is a former Augustinian monastery and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.[1][2]

Errew Abbey
Mainistir Oiridh
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other namesAireach-lochacon; Aired-locha-con; Erew; Loch Conn; Oired; Oreab;
OrderAugustinians
Establishedc. AD 500–520
Disestablished1585
Mother houseCrossmolina Priory
DioceseKillala
People
Founder(s)Tigernan of Errew
Architecture
Statusruined
StyleCistercian
Site
LocationErrew, Castlehill, County Mayo
Coordinates54.053131°N 9.263349°W / 54.053131; -9.263349
Public accessyes
National Monument of Ireland
Official nameErrew Abbey
Reference no.307

Location

Errew Abbey is located on a peninsula stretching into Lough Conn. Templenagalliaghdoo lies immediately to the north.

History

Tigernan of Errew is said to have founded a monastery here in the early 6th century. It was originally called "Mainistir Taobh Thiar do Shruth", "the abbey on the west side of the stream". Up to 1,400 students from all over Europe are claimed to have studied there.

It was refounded by the Barretts in the 12th/13th century.

Thomas Barrett, Bishop of Elphin, was buried here in 1404. In 1413 the Barretts founded an abbey for the Augustinian Canons, dedicated to the Virgin Mary; they seem to have made use of the buildings from the earlier foundation. Rather than a true abbey, it was more likely a priory cell dependent on Crossmolina Abbey.

In 1413, McWattin Barrett violated the sanctuary of Errew to seize Henry Barrett who had taken refuge there. Saint Tigernan is said to have appeared to McWattin every night until he promised to make amends; he gave the abbey an éraic of a quarter of land (ceathrú mír, about 120 acres) at Ballinbraher (Friarstown).

A family called O'Flynn were erenachs of the lands at Errew and came into the possession of Mias Tighernain, a paten said to have belonged to Tigernan.[3][4]

Errew Abbey was dissolved in 1585.

Building

There is a long rectangular church, measuring 27 × 7 m (90' by 22') which has retained some trefoil-headed windows, two sedilia and a piscina. The east side of the cloister is well-preserved, but it does not have the typical open arcade.[5][6][7]

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References
  1. "Holdings: Errew Abbey, Co. Mayo".
  2. Lewis, Samuel (1 January 1840). "A topographical dictionary of Ireland: comprising the several counties, cities, boroughs corporate, market, and post towns, parishes and villages ... : With an appendix describing the electoral boundaries of the several boroughs as defined by the act of the 2d. and 3d. of William IV". Lewis – via Google Books.
  3. "Errew Abbey, Crossmolina Co. Mayo in the West of Ireland - mayo-ireland.ie".
  4. Service, Mayo County Library. "Antiquities".
  5. "Errew Abbey".
  6. "Errew Abbey".
  7. "Errew Abbey".
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