Old Mellifont Abbey
Old Mellifont Abbey
The first Cistercian monastery in Ireland founded in 1142 by St Malachy of Armagh, its most unusual feature is the octagonal Lavabo c. 1200. The Visitor Centre houses an interesting exhibition on the work of masons in the Middle Ages with fine xamples of their craft on display. Access to site by stone stairway.
Today the ruins of the monastery stand silently on the banks of the little river Mattock, but the voices that sang the praises of God in the old stone church continue that song around the throne of God. The remains of the abbey include a 13th-century lavabo (where the monks washed their hands before eating), some Romanesque arches and a 14th-century chapter house. In 1938 a new band of Cistercian monks from Mount Melleray returned to the old monastery lands less than four miles away to re-establish monastic Cistercian life in Co. Louth.
Facilities:
Visitor Centre
Exhibition
Toilets, toilet for visitors with
disabilities
Self-guiding trail
Public car/coach park
Picnic area
Guided Tours: Available on request. Max No: 35 - 40. Duration: 40 minutes
Leaflet/Guide book: English, Irish, French, German, Italian, Spanish.
Photography/Video allowed, but permit required for commercial purposes.
The Visitor Centre is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities.
Opening Times:
- 29th April - 29th September: Daily 10.00 - 18.00
- Last admission 45 minutes before closing
- Average Length of Visit: 1 hour
Admission Prices:
Adult: €3
Sen/Group: €2
Child/Student: €1
Family: €8
Location:
10km north-west of Drogheda off the R168 (Drogheda-Collon Road)
Contact Details:
Telephone: End May - September, (Old Mellifont Abbey) +353 41 982 6459/1st October - May, (Brú na Bóinne) +353 41 988 0300
Fax No: End May - September, (Old Mellifont Abbey) +353 41 982 6053/1st October - May (Brú na Bóinne) +353 41 982 3071
Email:
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