# List of monastic houses in County Laois

The smaller establishments such as monastic cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks) and camerae of the military orders of monks (Knights Templars and Knights Hospitallers) are included. The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have, the status or function of an abbey, priory, or preceptory/commandery.

## Layout

Communities/provenance: shows the status and communities existing at each establishment, together with such dates as have been established as well as the fate of the establishment after dissolution, and the current status of the site.
Formal name or dedication: shows the formal name of the establishment or the person in whose name the church is dedicated, where known.
Alternative names: some of the establishments have had alternative names over the course of time. In order to assist in text-searching such alternatives in name or spelling have been provided.

## Abbreviations and Key

The sites listed are ruins or fragmentary remains unless indicated thus: :
| * | current monastic function |
| + | current non-monastic ecclesiastic function |
| ^ | current non-ecclesiastic function |
| = | remains incorporated into later structure |
| # | no identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains |
| ~ | exact site of monastic foundation unknown |
| ø | possibly no such monastic foundation at location |
| ¤ | no such monastic foundation |
| ≈ | identification ambiguous or confused |
Locations with names in italics indicate probable duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented).
Trusteeship denoted as follows: :
| NIEA | Scheduled Monument (NI) |
| NM | National Monument (ROI) |
| C.I. | Church of Ireland |
| R.C. | Roman Catholic Church |
Download coordinates as:
* KML
* GPX (all coordinates)
* GPX (primary coordinates)
* GPX (secondary coordinates)
| Foundation | Communities & Provenance | Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names | OnLine References & Location |
| Abbeyleix Abbey$^#$ | Cistercian monks — from Baltinglass founded 1183 by Corcherger O'Moore (Cucogry O’More/Connor O'More); colonized from Baltinglass 7 September 1184 dissolved before 1552?; granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormond 1563 | Leix Abbey; Lex Dei | |
| Abbeyleix Monastery (Clonkeen) | early monastic site, founded c.600 | | |
| Addrigoole Monastery | early monastic site, nuns founded before 600? by St Finbarr of Cork; probably Augustinian nuns after 1160; dissolved c.1240, convent granted to the prioress and nuns of Kilculliheen by David Fitz Milo, Baron of Overke - no subsequent record of nuns at the convent | Addergoole; Etargabail | |
| Aghaboe Friary | Dominican Friars founded 1382 by Florence Mac Gilpatrick, Lord of Ossory; dissolved 1540; granted to Florence Fitzpatrick, Baron of Upper Ossory 1601 | St Canice | |
| Aghaboe Monastery$^#$ | early monastic site, founded 6th century by St Canice episcopal diocesan cathedral | Achad-Bo; Aghavoe; Athebowe; Hagevo | 52°55′20″N 7°30′50″W﻿ / ﻿52.922248°N 7.513960°W﻿ / 52.922248; -7.513960﻿ (Aghaboe Monastery) |
| Aghaboe Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1382; on site of Aghaboe Monastery (see immediately above); dissolved; granted to Florence FitzPatrick c.1600 | | 52°55′20″N 7°30′50″W﻿ / ﻿52.922248°N 7.513960°W﻿ / 52.922248; -7.513960﻿ (Aghaboe Priory) |
| Aghmacart Monastery | early monastic site, founded 6th century | St Tigernach ____________________ Achad-maic-airt; Achad-mic-airt; Achamicaire; Hacmakarthy | |
| Aghmacart Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1168?, supposedly on the site of earlier monastery (see immediately above); dissolved 1540; granted to Florence Fitzpatrick, Baron of Upper Ossory 1601 | St Tigernach St Mary ____________________ Achad-maic-airt; Achad-mic-airt; Achamicaire; Hacmakarthy; Achmacatenis; Achmecart; Ahmart; Amcart | 52°49′14″N 7°30′36″W﻿ / ﻿52.820627°N 7.510099°W﻿ / 52.820627; -7.510099﻿ (Aghmacart Priory) |
| Aghmacart parish 'Abbey', nr Glenmacoll | "Abbey (in ruins)" | | 52°48′09″N 7°29′45″W﻿ / ﻿52.802632°N 7.495733°W﻿ / 52.802632; -7.495733﻿ (Aghmacart parish 'Abbey') |
| Annatrim Monastery | early monastic site, founded by St Mochoemoc (Pulcherius) | Eadcruin; Enach-truim | 52°59′04″N 7°30′46″W﻿ / ﻿52.984462°N 7.512760°W﻿ / 52.984462; -7.512760﻿ (Annatrim Monastery (approx.)) (approx) |
| Ardea parish 'Friary' nr River Triogue | "Friary in ruins" | | 53°06′29″N 7°18′48″W﻿ / ﻿53.107938°N 7.313461°W﻿ / 53.107938; -7.313461﻿ (Ardea parish 'Friary' (approx.)) (approx) |
| Attanagh Monastery | mentioned 1202-18 — possibly Loughill | Athenagh; Athanagh; Loughill? | |
| Ballylynan 'Abbey', nr Killabban parish | supposed monastic site, order, foundation and period unknown; purportedly founded by the O'More family; "Abbey in ruins" | Abbey of Shanecourt; Old Court | 52°55′58″N 7°01′30″W﻿ / ﻿52.932703°N 7.024958°W﻿ / 52.932703; -7.024958﻿ (Ballylynan 'Abbey') |
| Clonagh 'Monastery', Killabban parish | "Monastery (in ruins)" | | 52°53′38″N 6°58′27″W﻿ / ﻿52.893985°N 6.974108°W﻿ / 52.893985; -6.974108﻿ (Clonagh 'Monastery') |
| Clonenagh Monastery | founded 6th century by St Fintan; site now occupied by the remains of Clonenagh Church | Cluain-ednech; Cluain-eidnech; Cluain-oynach | 53°00′37″N 7°25′23″W﻿ / ﻿53.010329°N 7.422981°W﻿ / 53.010329; -7.422981﻿ (Clonenagh Monastery) |
| Clonmeen Abbey | supposed monastic site, order, foundation and period unknown; "Site of Abbey" | Cluain-min | 52°49′00″N 7°39′38″W﻿ / ﻿52.816800°N 7.660601°W﻿ / 52.816800; -7.660601﻿ (Clonmeen Abbey) |
| Durrow Monastery | early monastic site, founded by St Fintan Loeldubh of Dermagh in Hiduach | Durmagh-ua-nDuach; Dermagh | 52°50′43″N 7°24′00″W﻿ / ﻿52.845297°N 7.399968°W﻿ / 52.845297; -7.399968﻿ (Durrow Monastery (approx.)) (approx) |
| Dysartenos Monastery | early monastic site, founded by St Oengus between retiring from Clonenagh and prior to move to Tallaght | Disert-aengusa; Disert-enos | 53°01′00″N 7°13′58″W﻿ / ﻿53.016565°N 7.232839°W﻿ / 53.016565; -7.232839﻿ (Dysartenos Monastery) |
| Dysart Gallen Monastery | early monastic site | Disert-Chuilin | 52°53′35″N 7°16′18″W﻿ / ﻿52.893003°N 7.271659°W﻿ / 52.893003; -7.271659﻿ (Dysart Gallen Monastery) |
| Errill Monastery | early monastic site, purportedly founded 5th century by St Ciaran; "Friary (in ruins)" and "Church (in ruins)" | | 52°51′15″N 7°40′29″W﻿ / ﻿52.854225°N 7.674648°W﻿ / 52.854225; -7.674648﻿ (Errill Monastery) |
| Kildellig Monastery | early monastic site | Cell-dellce; Kil-edelig | 52°54′25″N 7°33′00″W﻿ / ﻿52.907026°N 7.550032°W﻿ / 52.907026; -7.550032﻿ (Kildellig Monastery) |
| Kilfoelain Monastery | early monastic site, possibly in County Laois or County Offaly | Cell-faolain; Kilfoylan? (Kilmanaghan parish, County Offaly) | |
| Killabban Monastery | early monastic site, founded by St Abban | Cell-abbain; Kilebbane | 52°55′01″N 6°58′28″W﻿ / ﻿52.916957°N 6.974559°W﻿ / 52.916957; -6.974559﻿ (Killabban Monastery) |
| Killermoghe Abbey | early monastic site, founded 558 by St Colmcille | Armuighe | |
| Killeshin Monastery | early monastic site, founded late 545 by St Comghan; burned c.1042 by mac Mael-na-mbo; burned 1077; site occupied by ruined 12th-century church (NM) | Gleane; Glenn-uissen; Glinnhussen | |
| Mountrath Monastery | early monastic site, monks, possibly founded 6th century by St Patrick | Muine-ratha | 52°59′53″N 7°28′38″W﻿ / ﻿52.998011°N 7.477108°W﻿ / 52.998011; -7.477108﻿ (Mountrath Monastery & Nunnery (approx.)) (approx) |
| Mountrath Nunnery | early monastic site, monks, possibly founded 6th century by St Brigid | Muine-ratha | 52°59′53″N 7°28′38″W﻿ / ﻿52.998011°N 7.477108°W﻿ / 52.998011; -7.477108﻿ (Mountrath Monastery & Nunnery (approx.)) (approx) |
| Oughaval Monastery | founded c.595 by St Colman of Oughaval; church in parochial use after the 12th century; modified 19th century by the Cosby family | | 53°00′32″N 7°08′01″W﻿ / ﻿53.008887°N 7.13355°W﻿ / 53.008887; -7.13355﻿ (Oughaval Monastery) |
| Newtown Nunnery | purported ruins of a house of nuns, foundation, period, order and status unknown | Baile-nua; Cahir | 52°50′19″N 7°27′18″W﻿ / ﻿52.838603°N 7.455082°W﻿ / 52.838603; -7.455082﻿ (Newtown Nunnery (approx.)) (approx) |
| Rathaspick Monastery | early monastic site | Raith-ne-n-epscop | |
| Rosenallis Monastery | founded by St Brigid of Kildare; dissolved 1537 | Ros-finglas | 53°08′09″N 7°24′20″W﻿ / ﻿53.135920°N 7.405638°W﻿ / 53.135920; -7.405638﻿ (Rosenallis Monastery) |
| Rostuirc Monastery | early monastic site | Rostoirc; possibly Kilbricken (Offerlane parish) | |
| Stradbally Abbey $^+$ | Franciscan Friars founded 1447 by Lord O'More; seized by the English c.1568; dissolved c.1569; large house built by Francis Cosby, from monastic materials; granted to Francis Cosby | Stradbaile-laoighisi; Strad-bhailelaoise; Loyes; Mon-au-bealing; Noughaval; Oughaval (q.v.) | 53°00′56″N 7°08′50″W﻿ / ﻿53.015435°N 7.147198°W﻿ / 53.015435; -7.147198﻿ (Stradbally Friary) |
| Shrule Monastery | early monastic site, founded by late 5th century; plundered by the Osraigi 864 | Sruthair-guairi; Sruthair-ghuaire | |
| Sleaty Monastery | early monastic site, (community founded by St Fiacc at Domnach-feic); transferred here by St Fiacc; plundered by the Osraigi 864; site occupied by remains of Sleaty Church | Slebte; Sleibte; Sletty | 52°51′29″N 6°56′30″W﻿ / ﻿52.858031°N 6.941733°W﻿ / 52.858031; -6.941733﻿ (Sleaty Monastery) |
| Tempulna Cailleachdubh | early monastic site, nuns | | 52°55′41″N 7°28′01″W﻿ / ﻿52.927947°N 7.466841°W﻿ / 52.927947; -7.466841﻿ (Tempulna Cailleachdubh (approx.)) (approx) |
| Timahoe Monastery | early monastic site, founded before 654 by St Mochua mac Lonan; burned 1142 | Tech-mochua; Timohoe | 52°57′37″N 7°12′12″W﻿ / ﻿52.960305°N 7.203228°W﻿ / 52.960305; -7.203228﻿ (Timahoe Monastery) |

## Map link to lists of monastic houses in Ireland by county

| Click on a county to go to the corresponding article | Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone Carlow Cavan Clare Cork Donegal Dublin Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow |