Killone Abbey

Killone Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Chill Eoin) is a former nunnery located on the grounds of Newhall Estate in County Clare, Ireland. The abbey was founded in 1190 by Donal Mór O'Brien, King of Thomond and Munster (pre-16th century Clare was called Thomond), who placed there a sisterhood of the order of Saint Augustin. It was a prominent house of Canonesses Regular and one of the major female monastic institutions in Gaelic Ireland.
It became closely associated with the O'Brien dynasty, one of the leading Gaelic noble families in medieval Ireland, and many of its abbesses were drawn from their ranks. Among them was Slaney O'Brien (d. 1260), the daughter of Carbreagh, King of Thomond, who renounced her royal status and worldly possessions to take up the role of abbess. In an era marked by political unrest and violence, the abbey provided the happiest, as well as safest asylum for female virtue.
The last abbess, Lady Honora O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, the 1st Earl of Thomond, played a significant role in the abbey's later history. Following the suppression of monastic houses in 1540, Lady Honora married Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy and became heiress to Newhall and Killone. Their marriage, which required papal dispensation, occurred after the birth of their three eldest children.
By 1617, the abbey was recorded as being in ruins. Today, its remains are located on land used for grazing cattle within the grounds of Newhall House and Estate. The ruins include substantial portions of the abbey church and a crypt. A narrow stone stairway, situated between the altar and the east window, leads to a ledge atop the south wall of the church, offering views of the surrounding grounds.
The site is widely regarded for its serene atmosphere, spiritual significance, and natural beauty, making it a cherished landmark in the local area.
Also located on the grounds of Newhall Estate is Holy Well of Saint John the Baptist, known as Tobar Eoin in Irish, which has long been a site of religious significance. The well’s origins date back to pre-Christian times when it is believed to have been a pagan site of offerings to Jun of Babylon with summer festivals.
The well is believed to have healing properties and has served as a place of pilgrimage for centuries. It features remnants of historical stone structures and a natural spring. Local folklore and historical records indicate that the well was visited for blessings and cures, particularly during the feast day of Saint John. Its enduring presence continues to attract visitors seeking spiritual reflection and healing.
The well, adorned with inscriptions, some dating back to 1600, remains a site of veneration and a tangible connection to the spiritual practices of earlier generations. Its enduring presence reflects the reverence and affection carried by local traditions for this historic site.
Lord Walter Fitzgerald (the fourth son of Charles, Duke of Leinster) visited the site in 1899 and documented its history in Inscriptions at St. John’s Well, Killone Abbey, County Clare for the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.
Today, the site remains a focal point of local religious tradition, with an annual outdoor Mass held in June by the local parish, maintaining its role as a place of veneration and community gathering.
The abbey and graveyard is privately owned, part of Newhall Estate, owned by the Commane family, and as protected sites under national monument legislation, guardianship is vested in the Office of Public Works. As it is private land, access is available with the owner's permission. Killone Abbey is linked to Clare Abbey by the Pilgrim's Path, a footpath through Ballybeg forrest.