Corcomroe Abbey
| Corcomroe Abbey | |
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| Native name Mainistir Chorco Modhruadh | |
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Corcomroe Abbey as viewed from the southeast
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| Location | County Clare, Ireland |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Built | c. 1205-1211 |
| Architect | Donal Mór Ua Briain |
| Reference no. | 11[1] |
 Location of Corcomroe Abbey in Ireland
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Corcomroe Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Chorco Modhruadh) is an early 13th-century Cistercian monastery located in the north of the Burren region of County Clare, Ireland, a few miles east of the village of Ballyvaughan in the Barony of Burren. It was once known as "St. Mary of the Fertile Rock", a reference to the Burren's fertile soil.
The abbey is noted for its detailed carvings and other rich ornamentation, which are not commonly found in structures from this period. It features a typical cruciform church facing east, with a small chapel in each transept.[2]
Contents
History
Construction on the abbey most likely began sometime between 1205 and 1210 and used local limestone.[2] Legend maintains that the building was commissioned by King Conor na Siudane Ua Briain, who died in 1267 and whose tomb niche and effigy are visible in the north wall of the choir. According to the legend, Ua Briain executed the five masons who completed the abbey to prevent them from constructing a rival masterpiece elsewhere.[3] In reality, it was probably built by Conor's grandfather, Donal Mór Ua Briain (Donald O'Brien), the patron of a number of other religious structures in the historic Thomond region.
The English Reformation led to the dissolution of Catholic monasteries in England and Ireland. In 1554, the abbey was granted to the Earl of Thomond. The monks continued to tend the fields and maintain the abbey as circumstances allowed, but the political climate led to continued decline. The last abbot, the Reverend John O'Dea, was named in 1628.
See also
References
- ↑ National Monuments in County Clare
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Corcomroe Abbey at Clare County Library
- Michael Mac mahon,On a Fertile Rock:The Cistercian Abbey of Corcomroe, Kincora Books 2000, ISBN 978-0-9538667-1-7.
- Clements, P. 2011. Burren Country. The Collins Press. ISBN 9781848891173
External links
- Autumnal Rambles about New Quay, County Clare - Corcumroe Abbey - Cooke, Thomas L. - Galway Vindicator, 1842
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Corcomroe Abbey. |
- Pages with broken file links
- Commons category link is defined as the pagename
- Religious buildings completed in 1211
- Religious organizations established in the 1200s
- Cistercian monasteries in the Republic of Ireland
- Buildings and structures in County Clare
- Religion in County Clare
- Ruins in the Republic of Ireland
- Former populated places in Ireland
- Christian monasteries established in the 13th century
- National Monuments in County Clare
- Visitor attractions in County Clare
