Holycross Abbey — Holycross

Situated on the River Suir in undulating countryside. In 1180 the Cistercians founded a monastery (TN047-030001-) in Holycross, so named as the abbey possessed a relic of the True Cross. In 1185-6 Holycross was granted a charter by its founder Domhnall Ua Briain, King of Limerick (Stalley 1987, 245). This charter was confirmed by Prince John as Earl of Morton and further royal confirmations followed during the reigns of Henry III and Richard II (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 172-3). In 1539-40 the abbey became a secular college (Stalley 1987, 245). By 1561 this college had been dissolved and the abbey became the property of the Earl of Ormonde, however, it continued to function as a parish church and pilgrim centre (ibid.). In 1580 the abbey, town and all its income were granted to Philip O'Keane and Thomas Archer (COD, vol. 5, 304-5). In the later seventeenth-century Holycross still appears to have been a thriving settlement as it is documented as holding two fairs in 1667 (Smyth 1991, 164), part of the original fair green still survives at the W end of the village. A holy well (TN047-030004-), known as 'Abbey Well', is located c. 10m NE of the abbey church (TN047-030006-). A medieval stone bridge (TN047-030003-), rebuilt in 1626, crossed the River Suir immediately N of the abbey complex. In 1563 at the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Holycross was referred to as the 'town of Holycross (Carville 1973, 33). In 1626 a licence was granted to Edward Boyton his son to 'keep a tavern or wine cellar in their mansion house at Holycross' (Cal. pat. Rolls, Ire., Jas I, 323). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008