Site of Abbey — Kilkenny Abbey

A house for Fratres Cruciferi was founded at Kilkenny West, NE of Athlone, c.1200, apparently by Friar Thomas Dillon, grandson of Thomas Dillon who came to Ireland in 1185 (Hadcock 1964, 130). A church (WM023-025----) and graveyard (WM023-025001-) with chapel (WM023-025003-) are located immediately to the N and Kilkenny Castle (WM023-023----) is 175m to the NW. Holy well (WM023-024----) dedicated to St. Canice 1100m to NE. According to Gwynn and Hadcock a monastery was founded here in the mid-sixth century by St. Canice (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 391). It has been mistakenly suggested that this was the priory or hospital of St. John the Baptist which was founded soon after the Conquest by the Tyrrells (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 213). In 1569 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Crown granted a 21 year lease to Gabriel Croftes of the ‘site of the hospital of S. John of Kylkenny, co. Westmeath, the lands of Kylkenny and Bryttas, and the tithes of Kylkenny, Walterstowne, Kylmackaron, Stonton, Kyllensaughen, Tullaghmore, Tullham, Ballynekell, Stacom, and of the burgage of Kylkenny’ (Nicholls 1994, 93). Three years later in 1569 the Crown granted Robert Dillon, chief justice of the Common Bench, the ‘site of the hospital of S. John the Baptist, of Kilkenny, (co. Westmeath), the lands of Kilkenny and Britas, and the tithes of Kilkenny, Walteristone, Kylmacarren, Stoughton alias Stonton, Killenfaughen, Tullaghmore, Tullan, Stacon and Ballenekell, possessions of the hospital’ (ibid., 173). In 1682 Piers wrote that in the townland of Kilkenny West there are ‘yet to be seen some reliques of an abby or monastery belonging to the Knights Templars. In this place also standeth a church in good repair’ (Vallancey 1770, 81). In 1795 it was recorded that ‘an abbey was founded here in the early ages; for we find that the Abbot St. Scannail died A.D. 773. A Priory or Hospital was afterwards erected in this town for Cross-bearers, or Crouched Friars, under the Invocation of St. John the Baptist. Some writers erroneously give the foundation to the family of Tyrrell; but, from the best authority, we say, that Friar Thomas, a Priest, and grandson of Sir Thomas Dillon, who came into Ireland, A.D. 1185, was the founder of this house, and lies interred here' (Seward 1795). Cogan recorded that a ‘monastery was erected here, about the middle of the sixth century, by St. Canice, which was called after him, Cill-Chainnigh, and from which the parish and barony of Kilkenny-West derive their name. After the Anglo-Norman invasion, the noble family of Dillon became possessed of vast property in this neighbourhood, and in the thirteenth century the Rev. Thomas Dillon, son to Henry Lord of Drumrany, founded at Kilkenny-West, a monastery for Cruciferi, or Crossbearers, a branch of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, which he placed under the patronage of St. John the Baptist. From this to the period of its suppression, time of Henry VIII., the house of Dillon patronised this priory; very many of its members joined the community, and frequently were elected by the fraternity to govern the same. The prior paid one mark annually proxies to the Bishop of Meath; and, in 1335, the grand priory of Kilmainham, near Dublin, had an exempt hospital in this town, and probably in this priory. On the 2nd of May, 11th Queen Elizabeth, this monastery, and its appurtenances, with twelve messuages, and two carucates of land in Kilkenny, one carucate in Britlass, and all their tithes, were granted to Robert Dillon, in capite, at the annual rent of £22 0s. 10d.’ (Cogan 1870, 579). This site was visited in 1981 and described as 'The site is situated on the NE shoulder of a hill. There are valleys of low lying wet land to the E and N. The outline of a substantial structure can be clearly discerned on the ground. Foundation walls are clearly visible and some stretches of masonry can be made out. The principal structure is a long building running roughly E-W. The interior is sunk well below the level of the surrounding land. The foundations of side walls at N and S running E-W can be made out. These are c.1m high in places. It is c.16m long E-W by 6m wide N-S. There are traces of what appears to be a small annex at W side. To N of this building are traces of a range of structures. These consist of the foundations and outline of a large rectangular structure which is overgrown in places. Some substantial blocks of collpased masonry lie about. Traces and foundations of what appears to have been a small square building abut the main rectangular structure in its NE corner. These are somewhat overgrown. At W of main rectnagular structure there is a confised pattern of ridges and hollows. This appears to represent the remains of foundations of a number of small structures' (SMR file). Bing Maps aerial photographs taken November 2011 shows extensive earthwork remains of levelled abbey site in field immediately S of SE angle of graveyard (WM023-025002-). These earthworks appear to be enclosed by the grass covered remains of a levelled wall which forms a large rectangular enclosure around the abbey. This levelled wall may mark the outline of the levelled monastic precinct wall. Alternatively they may represent settlement earthworks belonging to the medieval settlement of Kilkenny West. Cultivation ridges of uncertain date are also visible in the aerial photographs. The low grass covered wall footings of buildings associated with the abbey can be seen standing along the W side of this large enclosure and it is possible that that barrel-vaulted chapel (WM023-025003-) standing in the SE quadrant of the adjoining graveyard (WM023-025001-) may have formed part of a range of buildings belonging to this abbey. The large and impressive architectural fragment (WM023-024004-) now lying beside the nearby holy well (WM023-024----) which formed part of the rib vaulting of the roof of the abbey is clear evidence of the impressive size of this abbey. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 6 July 2015