Corcomroe Abbey is a magnificent 13th-century abbey in the Burren (Co. Clare). Although partially in ruins, the site is packed with exceptional medieval remains, bearing witness to the daily life of the Cistercian monks who lived there. A place to discover without hesitation!
Corcomroe Abbey – Erin Perry – cc
Corcomroe Abbey was founded between 1205 and 1210.
Legend has it that it was commissioned by the Thomond king Conor Siudane Ua Briain (whose recumbent remains can be seen in the north wall of the choir).
Legend has it that the king subsequently had the 5 masons responsible for the abbey’s construction executed, to prevent them from reproducing a more beautiful masterpiece with a rival clan.
More likely, many researchers believe it was Donal Mór Ua Briain (Donald O’Brien), the grandfather of King Thomond Conor Siudane Ua Briain, who ordered the building’s construction. Many Cistercian monks would have been involved in its construction.
The abbey remained in operation until the end of the 17th century. Rendered bloodless by the English Reformation and massive dissolutions of Catholic monasteries, its last abbot was appointed in 1628.
Corcomroe Abbey – Shaun Dunphy – cc
Corcomroe Abbey is set in a field a few miles from the village of Ballyvaughan.
Impossible to miss, the abbey is in an exceptional state of preservation…
Despite the rigors of time, it has preserved all the finesse of its sculptures, vaults and walls, making it easy to guess the original configuration of the premises.
The monastery features a splendid cruciform church (facing east), as well as a number of communal buildings, where the monks of the time lived.
All built from the limestone found throughout the Burren, it offers an unrivalled charm to the region. Don’t hesitate to admire the beauty of its architecture and sculptures: its heritage is among the finest in Ireland!
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