Muckross Abbey

Muckross Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Locha Léin and Mainistir Mhucrois) is one of the major ecclesiastical sites found in the Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary for the Observantine Franciscans by Donal McCarthy Mor.^[1]

Muckross Abbey

Monastery information
Established	1448
Site
Location	Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Country	Ireland

Muckross Abbey

The abbey in the 1890s

It has had a violent history and has been damaged and reconstructed many times. The friars were often subjected to raids by marauding groups^[who?] and were persecuted by Cromwellian forces under Lord Ludlow.^[2] Today the abbey is largely roofless, but is otherwise generally quite well-preserved with safe stairways providing access to the upper storey.^[3] Its most striking feature is a central courtyard, which contains a large yew tree and is surrounded by a vaulted cloister.^[4]

Ground plan of Muckross Abbey

In the 17th and 18th centuries, it became the burial place for prominent County Kerry poets O'Donoghue, Ó Rathaille and Ó Súilleabháin, while Piaras Feiritéar is buried in the graveyard just outside.^[5]

Gallery

• 
  The Friary
• 
  Abbey and graveyard seen from the west
• 
  Courtyard with cloister and yew tree.
• 
  Refectory

See also

• Muckross House
• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Kerry)