Kilcooly Abbey

About this place

Kilcooley Abbey is a Cistercian abbey near the village of Gortnahoe in County Tipperary, Ireland. The abbey is located inside the grounds of the Kilcooley Estate. This abbey dates from 1182 when the King of Thomond Donal Mor O’Brien granted lands to the Cistercians, to build an abbey here. The abbey, which was built around 1200 is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Benedict and shares similar Cistercian architecture with both Jerpoint Abbey and Holy Cross Abbey. The abbey is open to the public. After the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries, Kilcooley passed into the possession of the Earl of Ormond. It was granted to the English-born judge Sir Jerome Alexander in the 1630s. It passed to his daughter Elizabeth, and then through marriage to the Barker baronets of Bocking Hall, the last of whom died in 1818.

Visitor Information

Heritage status

Protected Heritage Site

Getting There & Parking

Kilcooly Abbey is located in County Tipperary, roughly 91 km (1h 20m drive) from Limerick and 148 km (2h 10m) from Dublin. The nearest public car park is 345 m away. Nearby highlights within a short drive include Clonamicklon Castle (ruins) (1.9 km away).