Sligo Abbey, Sligo

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The Baron of Offaly, Maurice Fitzgerald, founded the Dominican Friary in the 13th century. The Abbey has been destroyed by fire in 1414 and has been attacked and ravaged in both the Tyrone War in the 16th century and in the Ulster Uprising in 1641. The Friars vacated the abbey in the 17th Century and later on in the 1850s, it was restored by Lord Palmerston.

It is known as The Abbey and guided tours are available. Photography is allowed inside. It is well worth a look to see some beautiful carvings of Gothic and Renaissance tomb sculpture. The High Altar was sculptured in the 15th century and is the only one of its kind to be found in any Irish Monastic church.

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Like many Norman towns in Ireland, Sligo had an Abbey (Dominican Friary) and castle. The abbey was founded by Maurice Fitzgerald, the Chief Justice of Ireland, in 1252/3.
It was destroyed by fire in 1414, rebuilt in its present form, then burned again in 1642 when everything valuable in it was destroyed. Much of the structure, including the choir, carved altar and cloisters remain.

I thought it an imposing structure, just pulsating with ancient history.



Open daily 10AM-6PM (last admission 5:15PM).
Closed from mid-Dec until Feb..
Adult:€2.10, Senior:€1.30, Student:€1.10, Family:€5.80, Group Rate:€1.30. edit as of 5/2008

Sligo Abbey is actually a Friary but it is called an Abbey. It was built in the middle of the 13th Century by Maurice Fitzgerald. It has Catholic graves dating back to the 14th Century. The remains are a good example of this type of religious building.
It is very reasonable to visit the Abbey - costing the equivalent of £2 for adults.

Sligo Abbey was originally built around 1253 as a Dominican Friary. The Abbey was badly damaged by fire in 1414, but afterwards rebulit. Though now a ruin, it was at that time regarded as one of the finest buildings in Ireland.