Ballyboggan Abbey

Ballyboggan Abbey
Ballyboggan Abbey viewed from the graveyard
Interactive map of Ballyboggan Abbey
Monastery information
OrderAugustinian Canons
Established12th or 13th century
Disestablished1537
Dedicated toHoly Trinity
DioceseDiocese of Meath
Site
LocationCounty Meath, Ireland
Coordinates53°24′35.7″N 7°02′37.5″W / 53.409917°N 7.043750°W / 53.409917; -7.043750

Ballyboggan Abbey, also known as Ballyboggan Priory, is a ruined monastic complex situated near the River Boyne in County Meath. The site is located 7.5 km south of Kinnegad; the R401 road to Edenderry passes nearby. Remaining structures include the abbey church's chancel, nave and a small portion of the south transept.

History

The abbey was founded in the 12th or 13th century by Jordan Comyn (or "Comin") under a monastic order of Augustinian canons.[1][2] Records from 1283 suggest that the abbey's prior was then the subject of "letters of simple protection" by the Crown.[3] The abbey's church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and known historically as the abbey of "De Laude Dei" meaning 'to the praise of God'. The site was part of a sacred pilgrimage known in particular for the veneration of a wooden cross owned by the abbey.[4]

The complex was damaged by fire in 1446,[1][5] and dissolved during the Reformation by Henry VIII, surrendered by its last prior Thomas Bermingham on 15 October 1537. The sacred wooden cross of Ballyboggan was burned publicly in Trim in 1538 with a statue of the Virgin Mary belonging to the abbey in Trim.[6]

Location and remains

The site is located 7.5 km south of Kinnegad; the R401 road to Edenderry passes nearby. Remaining structures include the abbey church's chancel, nave and a small portion of the south transept. The surviving portion of the chancel measures 17 m x 10.2 m, and the nave measures 34.5 m x 10.2 m.[7] A boundary wall separates the chancel from the remainder of the monastic complex. The cloister of the abbey is visible only as a raised platform of ground to the south and east of the standing ruins of the chancel and nave.

As of the 21st century, the graveyard and chancel is owned by Meath County Council, while the remains of the nave and south transept are located on private land.

See also

Further reading

  • Gwynn, A.; Hadcock, R.N. (1970), Medieval religious houses of Ireland, Dublin: Irish Academic Press, pp. 159–160

References

  1. ^ a b Lewis, Samuel (1837). "Ballyboggan". A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London: Lewis – via libraryireland.com.
  2. ^ Salter, Mike (2009). Abbeys and Friaries of Ireland. Folly Publications. p. 79. ISBN 9781871731842. Ballyboggan Priory Co Meath [..] The 13th century church of the Augustinian priory founded by Jordan de Cumin is impressive for its size of 58m by 8m but it has lost most of its transepts
  3. ^ Sweetman, H. S. (ed.), Calendar of documents relating to Ireland, volume 2 (1252–1284), p. 472 – via virtualtreasury.ie, 1282-1283 [..] Feb. 3. [..] 2041. Letters of simple protection for 3 years for the Prior of Balibagan [Ballyboggan]
  4. ^ French, Noel. "Ballinabrackey, Castlejordan and Ballyboggan". meathhistoryhub.ie. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  5. ^ Cogan, Rev. A. (1862), Ecclesiastical history of the diocese of Meath: ancient and modern (Volume 1), Dublin: John Fowler, Joseph Dollard, pp. 169–170
  6. ^ Wilde, W. (1850), The beauties of the Boyne and its tributary, the Blackwater (2nd ed), Dublin: McGlashan, p. 53
  7. ^ Moore, Michael John (1987). Archaeological Inventory of County Meath. The Stationery Office. ISBN 0707600316.
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