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History and Historical Sites

Moyne Abbey

Moyne Abbey is situated at the mouth of the River Moy overlooking Bartra Island. It is 3.5 kilometres from Killala Town. It was founded by permission of Pope Nicholas for the Observantine Franciscans in 1460.

The founder may have been McWilliams Bourke or one of the Barrett family. The Church consists of a rectangular nave and chancel with an eastward extension of the nave which is wider than it. The west doorway was added in the 17th century.

There is also a chapel running southwards from the east end of the church. The stairs of the tower are still intact. The well preserved cloisters were added towards the end of the 15th century. The various buildings surrounding it include a sacristy next to the church with a chapter house beside it, and on the side opposite the church there is a kitchen and refectory, under which a stream flows. The friars remained long after the Dissolution. Sir Richard Bingham burned the friary in 1590.

In 1617 it was in the hands of an unnamed widow who, however, still allowed the friars to remain on. At that time there were only 6 friars left. The last Friar probably died around 1800.