| Turlough Abbey | |||||||
| Native Name: | Mainistir Thurlaigh | ||||||
| Native Name Lang: | ga | ||||||
| Founder: | Saint Patrick | ||||||
| Established: | c. AD 500–520 | ||||||
| Disestablished: | 1635 | ||||||
| Diocese: | Tuam | ||||||
| Status: | ruined | ||||||
| Location: | Turlough, County Mayo | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 53.8887°N -9.2083°W | ||||||
| Map Type: | Ireland | ||||||
| Public Access: | yes | ||||||
| Remains: | church and round tower | ||||||
| Heritage Designation: |
| ||||||
Turlough Abbey is a former monastery and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.[1] [2] [3]
Turlough Abbey is located about 600 m (650 yd) northeast of Turlough village.[4]
Turlough is an early monastic site, possibly founded in AD 441 by Saint Patrick.
In the ninth century an unusual low and squat round tower was constructed at the site.[5]
In 1302 the Abbey was valued for the ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland. The Abbey survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries and a crucifixion plaque dated 1625 is an example of Counter-Reformation iconography.
The Abbey was finally dissolved and granted to Walter Burke or John Fitzgerald by King Charles I in 1635.
The site passed to the Fitzgeralds in 1653 and they were presumably responsible for the 18th century cruciform church with three round-headed windows in the chancel. Three crucifixion plaques have been built into the church. There is also the tomb of George Robert FitzGerald dated 1786.[6] [7]
The round tower is relatively low at 23m (75feet) tall, and wide with a rounded-headed doorway and four square-headed windows.[5] It has a round-headed doorway 4m (13feet) above ground level.