Southern Ireland

DUBLIN CITY

Saint Ann’s Church, 18 Dawson Street, South of the river Liffey, Near St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, County Dublin, S.I.
01 676 7727 – stannschurch@eircom.net
(Mon-Fri) 10.00-16.00
The church was built in 1720, but now has a 1868 façade. The best view of the church is from Grafton Street and the church is famous for its lunch time recitals.

Saint Stephen’s Church, Upper Mount Street, Near Meridon Square, Dublin, County Dublin, S.I.
01 478 0638
Exterior View
This church was built in 1824 in the Greek Revival style, hence it’s cupola. The building has now been converted into business units. The church is nicknamed the Peppercanister church due to it’s unusual architecture.

Saint Werburgh’s Church, Werburgh Street, South of Christchurch Cathedral, Beside Dublin Castle, Dublin, County Dublin, S.I.
01 872 4154
Sunday services 11.00
The church has a long history of fine deign and interesting interior. However it is now only used for Sunday Mass, but visitors can obtain the key and see inside the building when it is not in use.

SOUTH WEST

Lislaughtin Abbey, 1 miles N of Ballylongford, Ballylongford, County Kerry, S.I.
Access at all times
The ruins of a Franciscan monastery built in 1477. The ruins have three finely carved sedilia and a good east window.

Aghadoe Church, Aghadoe, Killarney, County Kerry, S.I.
Access at all times
The ruined remains of a 12C church built on the site of a 7C monastery. A Romanesque doorway has survived in excellent condition.

Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, Cobh, County Cork, S.I.
(Daily) 07.00-20.00
The gothic spire of the cathedral dominates the surrounding landscape and was completed in 1915. The cathedral has the largest carillon or harmonised bell system in Ireland which consists of 47 bells weighing over 7700 pounds.

Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Cathedral Place, Off Port Road, Killarney, County Kerry, S.I.
021 443 1014
Daily 10.30-18.00
The cathedral has three huge altars and can seat 1400 people inside its rough limestone structure.

WESTERN

Killinaboy Ruined Church, Killinaboy, County Clare, S.I.
Access at all times
This 16C church has two interesting features, a Sheela-Na-Gig above the doorway and a double barred cross on the church gable.

Augustinian Friary, Church Street, Adare, County Limerick, S.I.
061 396 227
Please phone for opening times
The Friary was built around 1315 by John the 1st Earl Of Kildare and now is Adare’s Church Of Ireland Parish Church.

Cictercian Abbey of Knockmoy, Abbeyknockmoy, County Galway, S.I.
Access at all times
A Cistercian Abbey founded in 1189 by King Cathal Crowdearg O’Connor the last of the O’Connor Kings to be buried in its sanctury.

Moyne Abbey, 1.5 miles from Killala Town, Ballina, County Mayo, S.I.
Access at all times
The church consists of a rectangular nave and chancel there is also a chapel, well preserved cloisters and a variety of buildings surrounding it.

Church Of Iomar Graveyard, Killimer, Killimer, County Galway, S.I.
Access at all times
Ellen Hanley is burried in this graveyard, her beauty lead to a tragic end at the hands of her secretly married husband, who drowned her in the Shannon in a fit of jealousy in 1819 when she was only sixteen.

Tuam Catholic Cathedral, To the east of Market Square, Tuam, County Galway, S.I.
Open all year
This is one of the finest examples of early Gothic Revival architecture with an impressive spire and windows.

Strade Abbey, Strade, County Mayo, S.I.
Access at all times
The remains of Strade Abbey that was originally founded for Franciscans but transferred to the Dominicans in 1252. Much of the present building is 15C, and there is a sculptured tomb on the north wall of the Chancel.

EASTERN

Fore Abbey, Near the village of Fore, 3 miles E of Castlepollard, Fore, County Westmeath, S.I.
Access at all times
Founded originally in 630AD by St Fechin and now home to the remains of a 13C Benedictine Priory.

Monasterboice, On the road from Drogheda, On the main N1 Dublin to Belfast Road, Or by following the Drogheda to Collon Road, Drogheda, County Louth, S.I.
Access at all times during daylight hours
This impressive monastic site contains two 10C high crosses and a round tower which is 110 feet tall, both of which are reputed to be the finest examples of their kind in Ireland. The site also houses two 13C churches.

Hill Of Slane, Slane, 10 miles from Tara, Slane, County Meath, S.I.
Access at all times
This is where St Patrick lit his Paschal fire in 433AD to announce the arrival of Christianity. Near the top of the hill are the ruined remains of Friary Church which was built in 1512.

SOUTH EAST

Saint Iberius Church, South of The Bull Ring, On Main Street, Wexford, County Wexford, S.I.
053 430 13
May-Sept Daily 10.00-17.00 Oct – April Tues – Sat 10.00-15.00
Free Guided tours available
The church was built in 1760 on the site of several previous churches. The 18C interior boasts altar rails from a Dublin church and a set of 18C monuments in the Gallery.

Saint Mary’s Church, Church Lane, New Ross, New Ross, County Wexford, S.I.
Exterior View Only, to view the interior the church key is available from the caretaker
The ruined remains of a church founded by Isabella of Leinster and her husband in the 13C. She died around 1220 and was buried in England but inside the church is a large stone slab that is her memorial.

Hore Abbey, Down the cow path from the Rock Of Cashel, Cashel, Cashel, County Tipperary, S.I.
Access at all times
This conglomeration of ruined arches and walls was built by Cistercian monks.

Tintern Abbey, Saltmills, 16 miles S of New Ross, Saltmills, County Wexford, S.I.
Mid June – Late Sept 09.30-18.30
Visitors are free to wander around the ruins of this 13C Abbey, but there is a charge for guided tours.

St Laserian’s Cathedral, Old Leighlin Carlow, Old Leighlin, County Carlow, S.I.
0503 21411
Mid June – End August Mon-Fri 10.00-18.00
This present 13C cathedral replaces a 7C monastary which once accommodated 1500 monks.

Mount Melleray Abbey, On the Glenshelare River Walk, 5 miles N of Cappoquin, Cappoquin, County Waterford, S.I.
058 544 04
Access at all times – Visitors are asked to respect the fact that this is still a working monastery 3 miles along the river walk you will come across a Cistercian Monastery that welcomes visitors in search of solitude.

NORTH WEST