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Dunbrody Abbey was founded around 1170 on the instructions of Strongbow, by Herve de Montmorency, after the Norman invasion of Ireland. It was completed circa 1220, but additions may have continued for some time. Herve de Montmorency made a grant of the lands to the monks of Bildewas in Shropshire (England), on condition that they should build the Abbey, for some monks of the Cistercian, or White Order (they wore white robes), and upon condition that there should be a Sanctuary in the Abbey for all malefactors. Dedicated to "St. Mary the ever Blessed Virgin, and St. Benedict" it has sometimes been called the Abbey of St. Mary de Port, for the refuge it contained by the express condition of its founder.
Herve de Montmorency became the first Abbot of Dunbrody and died there in 1205, at the age of 75, and was buried in the Abbey. The Abbey flourished for several centuries, but not without certain problems. In 1355, the Abbot and his monks appear to have taken to the Highway line of business, for it is said that William de Ross, Abbot of Dunbrody, and Adam and Hugh Barry, monks, were indicted for imprisoning one Thomas Herlyn, a monk of Tintern, and stealing two of his horses to the value of forty shillings. Also they expelled Thomas de Wiggemore, Abbot of Tintern, and robbed him of three horses to the value of eight marks. They were acquitted, perhaps fortunately.
The Abbey's demise started when Alexander Devereux, the last Abbot of Dunbrody, granted to the King, his heirs and successors, the Abbey and all its possessions circa 1542. Alexander Devereux changed religion, and became the Bishop of Ferns. The lands and Abbey then came into the possession of the Etchingham family. In 1642, Jane Etchingham, the heiress, married the second Earl of Donegall, whose descendants (Chichester family) own the lands to this day. It was handed over by the Chichester family to the Office of Public Works in 1911, and is maintained to the standards you see today by them.
More about Monastic Sites in Ireland you will find HERE.
Located
Dunbrody Abbey lies 2km south from the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park and 1,5km from the Passage East Car Ferry, on the main road from New Ross to the Hook Peninsula. The Abbey is 150km from Dublin.
Open
May to Mid September – 10am-6pm
Admission
Admission to Abbey
Adult €2
Child (under 17) €1
Family €5
Guided Tours of Abbey available on request
Maze / Castle / Pitch & Putt
Adult €4
Child (under 17) €2
Family €10
Facilities
Free Parking, Toilets
Useful links
en.wikipedia.org
www.discoverireland.tv
www.libraryireland.com
www.dunbrodyabbey.com
cistercians.shef.ac.uk
irishantiquities.bravehost.com
www.phouka.com
www.angelfire.com
www.clareisland.info
Attractions nearby
Ballynageeragh Portal Tomb within 24.6 km
Castleboro House Ruins within 27 km
Christ Church Cathedral, Church of Ireland, Waterford within 10.4 km
Cliff / Shell Cottage, Cullenstown within 17.8 km
Clonmines Castle / Augustinian Abbey / Church Ruins within 13.6 km
Coolbawn House Ruins within 25.6 km
Coolhull Castle Ruins within 18.2 km
Corluddy Castle Ruins within 17.5 km
Curraghmore House Estate and Gardens within 27.2 km
Duiske Abbey, Cistercian, Graiguenamanagh within 28.6 km
Dunhill Castle Ruins within 25 km
Gaulstown Dolmen within 19.2 km
Granagh / Granny Castle Ruins within 13.8 km
Hook Head Lighthouse within 17.9 km
Inistioge Augustinian Priory within 23.9 km
Jerpoint Abbey, Cistercian within 28.6 km
Knockeen Dolmen within 16 km
Knocktopher Carmelite Friary / Abbey within 28.1 km
Rocketts Castle Ruins, Portlaw within 23.1 km
Saltee Islands within 28.3 km
Slade Castle within 17 km
St Mullin's Monastic Site and Round Tower Stump within 22.9 km
Sweetman's Castle Ruins, Thomastown within 29.3 km
Tintern Cistercian Abbey, Hook Peninsula within 9.8 km
Hostels
Beach Haven Hostel, Tramore within 18.2 km
MacMurrough Farm Hostel within 14.6 km
Portree Hostel, Waterford within 11.2 km
C and C Parks
Newtown Cove Caravan and Camping Park, Tramore within 21 km
Ocean Island Caravan and Camping Park within 12.8 km
