Burrishoole Dominican Priory

Founded in 1469 for the Dominicans, Burrishoole Abbey is dedicated to Saint Mary, and was founded by Richard Bourke of Turlough, a descendent of the Anglo-Norman de Burgos.

Bourke was known as Risteard an Cuarscidh, ‘Richard of the Curved Shield’, and was elected as the chief of the Mayo Bourkes in 1460. However, after the establishment of Burrishoole, Bourke decided to join the abbey, instead of retain his title.

Situated beside an estuary of Clew Bay, the ruins of Burrishoole consist of a nave and chancel church, a belfry, a chapel, and a few remains of the cloister and domestic ranges. Today, a graveyard beside the ruins is still in use, and much of the abbey’s gothic architecture is still intact.

Burrishoole has quite the complex history associated with it. While the friars who lived there were protected for a time by their local lord from being evicted during the Dissolution of Monasteries in the 1530s, it was eventually fortified after Sir Nicholas Malby (Governor of Connaught) built a military base at the abbey.

Malby also saw the abbey, which was granted to him in 1580, as a financial boon, noting in an evaluation all the things in which it could be used to produce revenue: it was near water, was on good land, had an iron mine, and each year about 50 English ships would pay a tribute in order to be allowed fish there.

By the 18^th century the abbey was in ruins, with the collapse of its roof in 1793 marking the start of its decline.

The de Burgo O’Malley Chalice of 1494, which is now in Collins Barracks, was once associated with Burrishoole Abbey, and was commissioned by the grandson of Richard Bourke, Thomas de Burgo, and his wife, Grania O’Malley.

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