Athassel Augustinian Priory

The ruins of 12^th century Athassel Priory, Ireland’s largest medieval priory, are found in the village of Golden. The Augustinian monastery was founded by William de Burgo for the Canons Regular of St Augustine, and dedicated to St Edmund. In 1221, Hubert de Burgo, grandson of the founded, was a prior at the monastery. Such a large monastic settlement was a wealthy site, and the town outside the walls thrived, as such it was sacked and pillaged on two known occasions. In 1319 the monastery and town were burned by Maurice FitzThomas FitzGerald, Earl of Desmond, and a decade later by Brian Bán Ó Briain, of Thomond. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the ruins of Athassel Priory, and its lands, were granted to the Earls of Ormond.

While now in ruins, nothing remains of the town that once thrived, the site still contains carved stones, gable walls, a cloister, main aisle, and rood screen. The monastery is also the resting place of its original founder William de Burgo, as well as the 1^st and 2^nd Earl of Ulster, Walter and Richard Óg de Burgo.

Protect our Past - Click here to read about the importance of protecting our country’s unique heritage sites

This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014