Mellifont Abbey

Mellifont Abbey (Irish: An Mhainistir Mhór, literally 'the Big Monastery'), was a Cistercian abbey located close to Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland. It was the first abbey of the order to be built in Ireland. In 1152, it hosted the Synod of Kells-Mellifont. After its dissolution in 1539 the abbey became a private manor house. This saw the signing of the Treaty of Mellifont in 1603 and served as William of Orange's headquarters in 1690 during the Battle of the Boyne.

Mellifont Abbey
An Mhainistir Mhór
Lavabo of Mellifont Abbey
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
OrderCistercians
Established1142
Disestablished1539
Reestablished1938 (different location)
DioceseArmagh
People
Founder(s)Saint Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh
Architecture
StatusActive
StyleCistercian
Site
LocationCollon, County Louth, Ireland
Coordinates53.742317°N 6.466481°W / 53.742317; -6.466481
Public accessYes
National Monument of Ireland
Reference no.93[1]

Today, the ruined abbey is a National monument of Ireland and accessible to the public. The English language name for the monastery, 'Mellifont', comes from the Latin phrase Melli-fons, meaning 'Font of Honey'.

Location

Mellifont Abbey sits on the banks of the River Mattock, some 10 km (6 miles) north-west of Drogheda.

History

Origins
The Lavabo, 1902
Drawing of the doorway to the chapter house from 1755, shortly before it was removed from the site.

The abbey was founded in 1142 on the orders of Saint Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh.[2] By 1170, Mellifont had one hundred monks and three hundred lay brothers. The abbey became the model for other Cistercian abbeys built in Ireland, with its formal style of architecture imported from the abbeys of the same order in France; it was the main abbey in Ireland until its dissolution.

The Synod of 1152

An important synod was held in Mellifont in 1152 as recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters, which states that the synod was attended by bishops and kings along with the Papal Legate, Giovanni Cardinal Paparoni (also known as John Cardinal Paparo; Saint Malachy had died some four years earlier). The consecration of the church took place in 1157 and asserted Church authority by banishing the King of Meath, Donnchadh Ua Maeleachlainn.

Various kings gave donations to assist this foundation: Muirchertach Ua Lochlainn, provincial king of Ulster, gave cattle, some gold and also a local town land, Donnchad Ua Cearbhall, the king of Airgialla (Oriel), who had donated the land, also gave gold, while Derbforgaill, the wife of Tigernan Ua Ruairc gave gold, a chalice and altar cloths.

After dissolution

The abbey was dissolved in 1539, when it became a fortified house.

In 1603 the Treaty of Mellifont was agreed between the English Crown and Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, in the abbey grounds. Mellifont was then the property of The 1st Viscount Moore, who was a close friend of Lord Tyrone, and helped persuade him to sign the Treaty. The Moore family, who later became Earls of Drogheda, remained the owners of Mellifont until 1727.

William of Orange used Mellifont Abbey House as his headquarters during the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Description

Mellifont Abbey is now a ruin. Little of the original abbey remains, save a 13th-century lavabo (where the monks washed their hands before eating), some Romanesque arches and a 14th-century chapter house.

Burials

New Mellifont Abbey

New Mellifont Abbey is home to the cistercian monks and is located in Collon, a small village and townland in the south west corner of County Louth, on the N2 national primary road.

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See also
  • List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Louth)

References
  1. "National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship, Louth" (PDF). 4 March 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. "Old Mellifont Abbey", Heritage Ireland
External 3D model
3D model Mellifont Abbey.
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