Corcomroe Abbey

Daughter monasteries

Kilshane Abbey ( Kilsonna )

The Cistercian abbey Corcomroe Abbey, founded about 1195 (Irish Mainistir Chorca mrua ) or " Sancta Maria de Petra fertility " ( Holy Mary of the fertile stones), is one of the important places in the Burren. Its construction at today's location Bell Harbour in the north of County Clare is at the end of five decades of activity of the Order in Ireland of the 12th century and is a partially unique architecture.

History

The historical information can be poor, but that a king of Thomond, either Donal Mór O'Brien ( † 1194 - who also founded Holy Cross Abbey ) or his son Donat, founded the abbey, is considered safe. Monks from the monastery Inislounaght in County Tipperary were the builders. The land owned by the Cistercian abbeys usually based on thousands of morning fertile land. While also Corcomroe is a relatively profitable place, but only in contrast to the baldness of the southern Burren. Located on the northern border Thomonds, the area, the North-South Connection at was suitable to secure " Corker Pass". Thus, the Abbey was probably not intended for religious care of the northern Burren, which was carried out by the nearby churches of Oughtmama, but rather the basis for the maintenance of a garrison of O'Brien. In this regard Corcomroe is to be compared with other monastic foundations of the O'Brien clan on the periphery of the kingdom, Kilcooly Abbey and the mighty Holy Cross Abbey in Thurles, both in the eastern Tipperary. 1198 Corcomroe went from the daughter founding Kilshane Abbey ( Kilsonna ).

In the 13th century originated in divided since 1167 Ireland, a conflict between the Anglo-Norman and Irish Cistercian abbeys. Corcomroe, as an Irish abbey, was made in 1228 under the "Rule of Furness ", Lancashire, but three years later again affiliated to the monastery of Mellifont. But it remained permanently outside the main orientation of Cistercian activities on the island. Two battles were fought in the precincts of the Abbey:

1267 here was Conor na Siudaine O'Brien, King of Thomond, slain in battle against Carrach O'Loughlin, a local clan leaders of the Burren and solemnly buried in the Abbey.

1317 was at the Abbey Hill is a battle between the O'Briens, with the participation of Normans fought in several O'Briens fell.

An abbot of the monastery Corcomroe was in 1418 Bishop of Kilmacduagh. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540 several members were in the O'Brien family the abbey. 1611 was the Abbey of Richard Harding approximately 30 acres of land in the nearby Aughinish. 1628 John O'Dea, an Irish monk from Salamanca was appointed abbot.

The architecture

Cistercian abbeys follow the same plan with a cloister mostly on the south side of the church and cloistered buildings and conversions of a square courtyard. This basic plan was also adapted here, but hardly residues are obtained from the monastery area. The church has a roughly square choir, flanked by chapels in the square transepts. According to art historian Roger Stalley, who tried to create a chronology of the building, the first buildings were constructed 1205-1210. The work of local artisans, were probably executed in two phases, in a completely different quality. The early, significant work was carried out in the choir and in the north transept. Were built later the nave and the south transept. These sections are equipped with not so high quality material and less carved details. Two simple, large lancet windows adorn the west gable above the portal of the 15th century.

The choir

High quality features the choir. Of less concern is only the roof with its herringbone or chevron decoration on the ribs. The Gothic chancel arch is complemented by the capitals of the finely structured pillars of limestone. Lotus flowers are timely ornamental. Typical of the architectural style of transition in the early 13th century is the simple east window. The Lancet trio is dominated by a wider central lancet. Traces of color can be seen at the window and on the choir walls. As a foundation, the O'Brien Corcomroe has the special feature of a royal tomb. A dormant statue in a niche in the north wall of the chancel remained (in addition to those of O'Connor kings of Connacht in Roscommon ) as a single royal Irish tomb effigy. It dates from the 14th century and shows a crowned king in a long garment wrinkles. There is a carved panel from the same century with the bas-relief of a bishop with Irish scepter and Romanesque bishop's staff over the tomb. Next to it is a kind of double tomb niche from the 15th century. In the south wall of the choir are the doppelbogigen sedilia. Her two niches on the arches a single sheet, were the seats of the deacons during the fair.

The side chapels

The north chapel, including their capitals and the Gothic window is superior to that of the south side of architecturally. The entrance to the chapel consists of two differently decorated arches. Medieval graffiti can be found as remnants in the south chapel, and on the north wall of the choir. One recognizes a boat similar to the Round Tower of Roscrea. This graffiti, which is also available in the Abbey of Moyne and Knockmoy, Etienne Rynne (1932-2012), according to date from the 16th century.

The importance

Long narrow fields stretch from Corcomroe starting the Abbey Hill up. It was here that Yeats in 1919 his play " The Dreaming of the Bones " in the scene. Today bridal couples use the backdrop of the ruins as a backdrop for wedding pictures. Rogers Stalley 's book, "The Cistercian monasteries of Ireland ( 1987), draws on a national scale an image Corcomroe.