Monaincha Monastic Settlement

Roscrea (Tipperary)

A walk of 5km (each way) from the town of Roscrea brings you to this wonderful, peaceful setting.  You can of course drive there, but a word of caution – the road is narrow and care is needed when you meet another car etc.  Also, it’s a good idea to bring a good pair of hiking/weatherproof footwear as the lane from the roadway is sunken and can be muddy etc. in wet weather especially.  

A place of retreat, 7th century records show that both St. Canice of Aghaboe and local St. Cronan both used it for this purpose.  It is also recorded that Canice wrote a copy of the four gospels here.  The monastery was originally built on what was an island in the middle of Lough Cré – long since drained – this settlement became famous in the Middle Ages as a place of pilgrimage – long before Lourdes, Fatima etc.  Thousands of pilgrims came to Monaincha Monastic Settlement seeking cures for their ills.  Its name is derived from the Irish “Inis na mBeo” – the Island of the Living – Insula Viventium as what Gerald Cambrensis called it in 1185.  The Book of Ballymote in the 14th century declared it to be the “31st Wonder of the World”.  Rumour had it that you couldn’t die there!

On your way to it you might like to visit St. Anne’s Centre – about an extra kilometre off the road to Monaincha, and is the location of St. Cronan’s first monastery – here in the ruins lies the remains of Michael Haas of the film “Philomena” fame.  

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