Historical Postcard Collection: Cashel - Hore Abbey
Bailiúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: Caiseal – Séipéal Chormaic, An Mhainistir Liath
This was the last Cistercian Abbey to be founded in Ireland in medieval times. It was originally built by the Benedictines. They, however, were evicted from the site by Archbishop David McCarvill, who, in a fit of paranoia, imagined that the Benedictine monks had hatched a plot against him. Cistercians from Mellifont, an order considered to be more fashionable at that time, promptly replaced them. At the height of its power, the Abbey laid claim to nearly 400 acres and, charmingly, "a measure of ale out of every brewing" in the town.
The Abbey, which is dedicated to St. Mary, gets its name from the Irish translation of An Mainistir Liath (grey abbey). The name also refers to the colour of the Cistercian habit, which was a similar shade to that of hoar frost.
The Architecture
The Abbey comprised of a cruciform Gothic church with chapels ineach transept and an aisled nave. To the north of the chapel was the square cloister and living quarters. A tower was constructed at the crossing of the church in the 15th Century, and as well as housing a bell, it served as a fortification for the Abbey. The groined ceiling over the crossing is in a very good state of repair, and is an excellent illustration of the gracefulness of Gothic architecture.
The 1400s: Chopped and Changed
During the 15th Century the church was also reduced in size, as blocking walls cut off more than half the nave and both the transepts. The remainder of the nave was then converted into a large dwelling, evidence of which can be seen in the blocked arches and windows, and the remains of a fireplace.
The Dissolution of 1541 spelled an end for Hore Abbey, as it also did for the Franciscans and Dominicans in Cashel. Only the then Abbot, Patrick Stackpool, and one other monk were granted pensions, a poor reward for the residents of an establishment that had enjoyed such affluence. In 1561 Elizabeth I granted the Abbey to Sir Henry Ratcliffe.
Hore Abbey is today under the care of the Office of Public Works and is open to visitors.
Sources - Finn, "Royal and Saintly Cashel"; Dúchas, "The Rock of Cashel"
Sources - Bassett, "Co. Tipperary"; Dúchas, "Rock of Cashel"; Moloney (Ed.), "Times to Cherish
Read more about:
- The Rock of Cashel
- St. Patrick's Cross
- Cormac's Chapel Hore Abbey
- Click here for the complete online collection of postcards
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Clonmel - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - The Glen of Aherlow
last updated on: Tuesday, 03-Aug-2010 15:40:10 IST
Ba é seo an Mhainistir Cistéirseach ba dheireanaí a tógadh sna Meánaoiseanna in Eirinn. Na Beinidictigh a thóg ar dtús é. Cuireadh an ruaig orthu, áfach, nuair a cheap an tArdeaapag Dáibhí Mac Airbhíl go raibh siad ag pleanáil a bháis. Cuireadh Cistéirseach ó Mhellifont, a raibh a n-ord níos faiseanta ag an am, isteach ina n-áit. Ag ard a cumhachta, bhí os cionn 400 acra ag an mainistir, maille le tomhas beorach as gach uile ghrúdaireacht sa bhaile.
Ainmníodh an Mhainistir i ndiaidh Naomh Muire, ach faigheann sí a hainm comónta ón dath atá ar aibíd Cistéirseach.
An Ailtitreacht
Sa Mhainistir bhí séipéal ar fhoirm croise, tógtha sa tslí Ghotach le sépéilíni sna croslanna agus pasáiste i gcorp na heaglaise. Ó thuaidh bhí an clabhstra cearnógach agus an suanlios. Tógadh túr sa séipéal mar chloigtheach agus mar dhún don mhainistir. Tá cuma maith ar an síleáil, agus is léiriú iontach é ar ghrástacht ailtireachta Ghotach.
Na 1400: Athraithe Go Mór
Déanadh an séipéal níos lú sa 15ú hAois nuair a tógadh ballaí os comhair leath an choirp agus an dá chroslann. Déanadh áit chónaithe mhór den chuid eile den chorp, agus feictear fós áirsí agus fuinneoga clúdaithe agus fothracha tinteáin.
Tháinig deireadh leis an Mainistir Liath le Díscaoileadh 1541, mar aon leis na Doiminicigh agus na Proinsiasaigh i gCaiseal. Níor tugadh pinsin ach don Ab, Pádraig Stackpool agus do mhanach amháin eile, drochluaíocht ar dhaoine a mhair i saibhreas roimhe sin. I 1561 thug Éilis I an Mhainistir do Henry Ratcliffe.
Tá an Mhainistir Liath faoi chúram Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí agus tá sí ar oscailt do chuairteoirí.
Foinsí - Finn, "Royal and Saintly Cashel"; Dúchas, "The Rock of Cashel"
Foinsí - Bassett, "Co. Tipperary"; Dúchas, "Rock of Cashel"; Moloney (Ed.), "Times to Cherish
Léigh níos mó faoi:
Brabhsáil an bailiúchán chártaí poist stairiúla:
Cluain Meala - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - Gleann Eatharlaí
nuashonraithe ar: Tuesday, 03-Aug-2010 15:40:10 IST