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DUNBRODY ABBEY
Dunbrody Abbey
The Abbey was founded for the Cistercians between 1175 and 1178 by Hervey de Montemarisco, uncle of Strongbow and Marshal of Henry II, and he became its first abbot. It is thought that the original monks of the Abbey came from St. Mary’s in Dublin. For over 200 years the ownership of the Abbey was in dispute. However there is no dispute that in 1537 the Abbey was taken over by Henry VIII, and in 1544 formally surrendered to Alexander Devereux, the first Reformation bishop of Ferns. In 1546 Henry VIII granted the Abbey to Sir Osborne Itchingham. The church is one of the longest Cistercian churches in Ireland - 195 feet, but it is austere in its ornamentation. The church has a nave, choir and transepts, and there are three large and two small windows in the east wall. Round arches leading to the transepts were partially blocked up when the tower was added in the 15th century. The nave and side aisles were probably built some time after the chancel and transepts, and the south wall of the nave fell in 1852. The corbels at the bottom of the arches of the nave are some of the few decorated stones in the church. Some of the domestic buildings survive, including a book-store and chapter room on the east side and the refectory and kitchen on the south side.
Adjacent to the Abbey is Dunbrody Castle. This houses the Visitor Center, a craft shop and tea rooms. To the front of the castle is a live size full maze. One of only two in Ireland. It is created by means of 1,800 yew trees.
The Abbey resturant owners also run a cookery school from here. The resturant itself is worthwhile for a meal.
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