Trinity Island Abbey, Cavan

Trinity Island 13th Century Premonstratensian Priory Description: The priory of Holy Trinity, Lough Oughter, founded by grant of Cathal O'Reilly in 1237, was a daughterhouse of the Premontratensian abbey of Trinity Island, Loughkey, Co. Roscommon (Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 206). Situated at the centre of a now disused, roughly oval-shaped graveyard (dims. 56m N-S; 40m E-W). Remains comprise ivy-clad W gable and portions of N and S walls of a rectangular church (int. dims. c. 16m E-W; c. 5m N-S) with a transept on S side (int. dims. c. 6m N-S; c. 5m E-W) which appears to have been added during restoration of the priory in the 17th century. Walls of main body of church have a pronounced base batter. Main entrance in W gable, which it is believed, may have been originally adorned by the celebrated Romanesque doorway (CV025-071002-) now at the modern cathedral of Kilmore. Additional blocked entrance with masonry arch at W end of S wall. Fenestration includes large pointed window with chamfered ashlar jambs directly above W gable entrance and stray fragments of window spandrels, tracery and mullions of 15th-century date, scattered about the graveyard. W gable may have been surmounted by a small belfry. A bevelled cross-base with square socket and possible ringed cross-head, and a grotesque head (1712) which is now in the National Museum, were noted at the site in 1948. (O'Connell 1937, 242-289; Davies 1948, 99-109)


Situated: From Killashandra head SE on the R199 for about 4 kilometres, turn left onto the L55686, go c.700 metres. Park at the Car-Park. You must seek permission before visiting, Please ring the number at the Car-Park before taking the roughly 1.5 kilometre walk across private property to the abbey. Discovery Map 35: H 3526 0423. Last visit April 2022. Longitude: 7° 27' 47.2" W Latitude: 53° 59' 10.7"N Google Map. Photos: José Gutiérrez.

Trinity Island

13th Century Premonstratensian Priory

Description: The priory of Holy Trinity, Lough Oughter, founded by grant of Cathal O'Reilly in 1237, was a daughterhouse of the Premontratensian abbey of Trinity Island, Loughkey, Co. Roscommon (Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 206). Situated at the centre of a now disused, roughly oval-shaped graveyard (dims. 56m N-S; 40m E-W). Remains comprise ivy-clad W gable and portions of N and S walls of a rectangular church (int. dims. c. 16m E-W; c. 5m N-S) with a transept on S side (int. dims. c. 6m N-S; c. 5m E-W) which appears to have been added during restoration of the priory in the 17th century. Walls of main body of church have a pronounced base batter. Main entrance in W gable, which it is believed, may have been originally adorned by the celebrated Romanesque doorway (CV025-071002-) now at the modern cathedral of Kilmore. Additional blocked entrance with masonry arch at W end of S wall. Fenestration includes large pointed window with chamfered ashlar jambs directly above W gable entrance and stray fragments of window spandrels, tracery and mullions of 15th-century date, scattered about the graveyard. W gable may have been surmounted by a small belfry. A bevelled cross-base with square socket and possible ringed cross-head, and a grotesque head (1712) which is now in the National Museum, were noted at the site in 1948. (O'Connell 1937, 242-289; Davies 1948, 99-109)

Situated: From Killashandra head SE on the R199 for about 4 kilometres, turn left onto the L55686, go c.700 metres. Park at the Car-Park. You must seek permission before visiting, Please ring the number at the Car-Park before taking the roughly 1.5 kilometre walk across private property to the abbey.

Discovery Map 35: H 3526 0423. Last visit April 2022.

Longitude: 7° 27' 47.2" W

Latitude: 53° 59' 10.7"N

Google Map.

Photos: José Gutiérrez.

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