Holy Trinity Abbey, Lough Key

Holy Trinity Abbey is a former medieval Premonstratensian priory and National Monument located in Lough Key, Ireland.[1][2]

Holy Trinity Abbey
Mainistir na Tríonóide
Arms of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other namesLough Key Abbey
OrderOrder of Canons Regular of Prémontré (Premonstratensians)
Established1215
Disestablished1608
Mother housePrémontré Abbey, Picardy
DioceseElphin
People
Founder(s)Clarus Mag Máilin
Architecture
Statusinactive
StyleNorman
Site
LocationTrinity Island, Lough Key, County Roscommon
Coordinates53.989217°N 8.254697°W / 53.989217; -8.254697
Public accessyes
National Monument of Ireland
Official nameTrinity Abbey (Trinity Island)
Reference no.556

Location

Holy Trinity Abbey is located on Trinity Island, an island of 0.9 ha (2.2 ac) in the southern part of Lough Key, facing Rockingham House.[3]

History
The Premonstratensians wore white habits (as on mannequin pictured) and were known as "White Canons."

A monastic site existed on the island from the 7th century AD, and a gable and church doorway of the 9th century survive. Holy Trinity Priory was founded in 1215 by Clarus Mag Máilin, archdeacon of Elphin, the island being gifted by Cathal O'Reilly, king of East Bréifne. Some monks came here from Boyle Abbey in 1228.[4] It was raised to abbey status c. 1235. The standard claustral plan was envisaged but only the east range was actually built.[5]

It acquired a daughter house on Lough Oughter, County Cavan in 1237.

The religious and lay brothers were buried within the abbey and in two cemeteries on the island. In 1436 the anchoress Gormfhlaith died here.[6] Excavation suggests that the building to the north of the church was rebuilt after burning down in the 15th century, and this is confirmed by an annal entry in 1466 which blamed a fire on "the negligence of a woman."[7] The Annals of Loch Cé, covering events between 1014 and 1590, were written here.

Holy Trinity Abbey was held in commendam by Ruaidri mac Diarmata (Rory MacDermot, King of Moylurg) from 1548 and granted to a Robert Harrison in 1594. Sir Conyers Clifford was buried there in 1599. The abbey owned property at Aghnasurn and Estersnow.[8] The last monks left in 1608 when King James I confiscated the monastery.

One tomb on the island is of Úna Bhán MacDermot ("Fair Úna"). She was daughter of Brian Óg MacDermot (king of Moylurg 1603–36) who refused to let her to marry Tomás Láidir Costello ("Strong Thomas"), the son of one of his enemies. She died of a broken heart, and Tomás is said to have swam across to weep at her grave. Later he died too, and was buried next to Úna.[9][10][11]

A 1991 excavation found silver coins of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, bronze ferrule, iron knife and nails, pottery and rotary quern fragments.[12]

Buildings

The Abbey was constructed from the local rocks: pale grey sandstone and limestone.[13]

The church contained sedilia and chapter room.

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References
  1. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL22636278M/Archaeological_excavations_at_Holy_Trinity_Abbey_Lough_Key_Co._Roscommon
  2. Clyne, Miriam (1 January 2005). "Archaeological Excavations at Holy Trinity Abbey Lough Key, Co. Roscommon". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section C. 105C (2): 23–98. JSTOR 25506230.
  3. "Stock Images, Medical Scientific & Historical Photos - DIOMEDIA".
  4. "Lough Key Forest Park".
  5. "Medieval Lough Cé: History, Archaeology and Landscape". Four Courts Press. 1 January 2010 – via Google Books.
  6. McAvoy, Liz Herbert (7 October 2016). Anchoritic Traditions of Medieval Europe. Boydell & Brewer Ltd. ISBN 9781843835202 – via Google Books.
  7. "Lough Key Abbey (Walsh)".
  8. Clyne, Miriam (2005), "Archaeological Excavations at Holy Trinity Abbey Lough Key, Co. Roscommon", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature, Royal Irish Academy, Vol. 105C (2): 86 – via JSTOR
  9. aiveencooper (28 March 2013). "Lough Key Forest Park".
  10. Clyne, Miriam (1 January 2005). "Archaeological Excavations at Holy Trinity Abbey, Lough Key, Co. Roscommon". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section C. 105C (–1): 23–98. doi:10.3318/PRIC.2005.105.1.23.
  11. "Roscommon Genealogy IGP".
  12. "1171 « Excavations".
  13. "Trinity Island Lodge - About the Island".
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