Mungret Abbey

Mungret Abbey is a medieval friary and National Monument located in County Limerick, Ireland.[3]

Mungret Abbey
Mainistir Mhungairit
Mungret Abbey
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other namesMoungairid, Cathair Dheocain Neasán[1]
OrderCanons Regular of Saint Augustine (some time in the 12th century)
Establishedbefore 551
DioceseLimerick
People
Founder(s)Saint Neasan
Architecture
Statusruined
StyleNorman
Site
LocationBaunacloka/Dromdarrig, Dooradoyle, County Limerick
Coordinates52.634306°N 8.675514°W / 52.634306; -8.675514
Public accessno[2]
National Monument of Ireland
Official nameMungret Church Three Churches
Reference no.85

Location

Mungret Abbey is located immediately west of Dooradoyle and northeast of Mungret College, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southwest of Limerick city centre, to the south of the Shannon Estuary.[4]

History
black and white image old Mungret Church Ruin

Mungret was an early monastic site, founded before AD 551 by Saint Nessan (Neasán) the Deacon. At one point there may have been as many as 1,500 monks and six churches operating in competition to attract followers. Some offered free loaves and salted fish to entice followers to their ceremonies on special occasions. The first Thursday of every month was devoted to developing good habits, and monks were encouraged to chant for their supper, after devout prayer.

John O'Donovan claimed a fourth-century date, predating Saint Patrick.[5]

In 908, Cormac mac Cuilennáin, King of Munster, gifted the abbey three ounces of gold and a satin chasuble.[6]

It was plundered on four occasions in the 9th century by Vikings. High King Domnall Ua Lochlainn destroyed the monastery in 1107.

Mungret claimed episcopal status 1152, but was deemed to be too close to Limerick. 1179 the then king of Munster, Domnall Mór Ua Briain, granted the monastery to Brictius, Bishop of Limerick.[7]

Mungret then became a parish church (built 1251−72), operated by the Augustinian Canons Regular.

Mungret Abbey church was used by the Church of Ireland until 1822.[8] The antiquary Austin Cooper wrote about Mungret in 1781.[9]

The building was extended and the tower, the priest's living quarters, was added during the 15th century.

A bell was found at Loghmore nearby, called the Bell of Mungret.[10]

Buildings

Mungret Abbey

Located in the west of the group. A nave and chancel church with a square tower at the west.[11]

Old Mungret Church

A small rectangular pre-Norman church with three small windows. It is not later than the 1100. There is a lintelled doorway with inclined jambs leading into the nave, which is the oldest part of the church.

The old church

St. Nessan's Church

Also called the Monastery Church, it is located in the north of the group.[12] Built around the 12th century, it is rectangular with high gables, a lintelled west doorway and a small round-headed east window.

References
  1. "Mungairit/Mungret". Logainm.ie.
  2. "Mungret, Abbey and Bullaun Stone, Co. Limerick". Thestandingstone.ie.
  3. "The Mungret Annual". Mungret College. 29 December 1897 – via Google Books.
  4. C. C. Hamilton, ed. (29 December 2017). "Leigh's New Pocket Road-Book of Ireland ... on the plan of Reichard's Itineraries, etc". Samuel LEIGH – via Google Books.
  5. "The Traveller's New Guide Through Ireland, Containing a ... Description of the Roads ... Also the Present State of Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce, with a Complete List of All the Fairs. ... Illustrated with ... a Map, Etc". 29 December 2017 – via Google Books.
  6. "Mungret Abbey". Irishantiquities.bravehost.com.
  7. "Mungret Abbey, near Limerick City, Co. Limerick". Culturalheritageireland.ie.
  8. "Mungret Abbey Graveyards graveyard, Mungret, Limerick, Ireland - The on-line graves and graveyards finder". Historicgraves.com.
  9. "Mungret Abbey, Co. Limerick" (PDF). Limerickcity.ie. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  10. "History of Mungret-Crecora". Limerickdioceseheritage.org.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Temple Mungret, Doradoyle" (PDF). Limerickcity.ie. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
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