Shrule Abbey

Monastery informationOther namesCloghvanaha, ClogvanahaEstablished5th centuryDisestablished14th century?DioceseGalwayPeopleFounder(s)Saint Patrick, FelartusArchitectureStatusruinedHeritage designation

Designations
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Shrule Abbey
Reference no.	95

StyleCeltic monasticSiteLocationChurch Park, Shrule, County MayoCoordinates53°31′08″N 9°05′26″W / 53.518995°N 9.090615°W / 53.518995; -9.090615Visible remainswall foundationsPublic accessyes

Shrule Abbey is a former monastery and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.^[1][2]

Location

Shrule Abbey is located to the southwest of Shrule village, north of the Black River and south of St. Colman's Church.

History

According to tradition, Christianity was brought to Shrule by Saint Patrick himself in the 5th century AD. He founded a church at Donaghpatrick and left a disciple, Felartus, in charge. The ancient abbey of Cloghvanaha (Irish for "blessed stone") is believed to have grown from this site.^{[citation needed]}

Shrule was formerly under the jurisdiction of Cong Abbey, then in 1152 it was placed under Annaghdown Abbey.^[3][4] The abbey was replaced by St. Colman's Church (Teampall Cholmain) c. 1200 as the main place of worship in Shrule. Clogvanaha is mentioned in the ecclesiastical taxation of 1306.^[4]

Building

Little remains of this ancient abbey: only a rectangular mound (11 × 13.4 m; 12 × 14.7 yd) with masonry rubble visible in places.^[5]

References