Molana Abbey
The monastery Molana ( Irish: Mainistir Mhaolanfaidh ) was founded in the 6th century by Máel Anfaid and is located near the south coast of Ireland in the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore in the Blackwater River on a river island. A special meaning reached the monastery by the co-editor of the Collectio Canonum Hibernensis in the 8th century. In the 12th century, the Augustinian rule was adopted as part of a new foundation, and the monastery thus to a priory. Over the entire active period of the monastery of time was a focus of the work in the nursing and care of the poor. As part of the Reformation there were in 1541 on the abolition of the monastery; since it is privately owned. Since at least the 18th century, the monastery has fallen, so that today only ruins can be seen.
- 5.1 Primary sources
- 5.2 secondary literature
Name of the monastery
The Irish name of the island is Dairinis, which translates as " Oak Island". In originating from the early Middle Ages text sources, this name is also used for the monastery. However, since there still was another monastery island of that name in Wexford, was added, when required, the name of the founder Máel Anfaid, for example, in the genitive form Dairinis Mailanfaid in a text dating from the 9th century. Later, the old Irish island name was dropped and we write the name of the founder alone. Thus we find about the name Insula Moelanfyd in a memo from the documentary 1267. From this was today's Irish name Mainistir Mhaolanfaidh. The Irish name was anglicized later to Molana. Although the monastery after the founding in the 12th century a priory was and never received the rank of an abbey, and was often called Molana Abbey, the monastery, and accordingly is not rare of abbots in place of the speech priors.
Geographical location
The monastery is located on a former river island in the Blackwater River, which was connected in 1806 by the construction of two dams on the west side to the mainland. The site is only a few kilometers from the river mouth and the natural harbor of Youghal on the south coast of Ireland. Access to the lake was in the early Middle Ages is of great importance and has been widely used to contacts to another accessible via sea and river routes monasteries in Ireland and in Brittany. According to some traditions it is known that a seafaring in the early Christian period between Southern Ireland and Brittany, in three days and nights was possible. Were used here Curraghs that were sufficiently seaworthy.
History
The Early Christian Period
The monastery was founded in the 6th century by Máel Anfaid. About the founder, who is also called as abbot, little is known. There is also the hypothesis that Máel Anfaid lived up to the 7th century as a small saint's legend has been handed down for him, where he learns that Molua mac Ocha has died. As with 608, the year of death of Molua is quite reliable handed down in contemporary annals, this would mean that Máel Anfaid would have lived at least until 608.
As one of the other abbots of the second half of the 6th century Fachnan Mongach is handed down. He also founded the bishopric in Ross Carbery and became its first bishop. At the beginning of the 7th century, the monastery was among the first in Ireland, who joined the Roman calculating the date of Easter.
In the 8th century originated in Ireland the church reform movement Celi Dé, which rejected the increasing secularization of the churches and monasteries, stayed on a strict asceticism and especially zuwendete the poor and sick. Fer - dá - chrích, until his death in 748 the abbot of the monastery Molana, one of the members of this movement, and there is even evidence to suggest that Máel - Rúain, who was the abbot of Tallaght, the leading force of this movement previously could have been a pupil of Fer - dá - chrích. It is even believed due to further evidence that the reform movement in the monasteries Molana, Daire Eidnech and Lismore had its origin, all of which were quite close to each other within the limits of present-day counties of Waterford and Tipperary. As part of this reform movement presented in the Molana Monastery monk Rubin in cooperation with the Ionians monk Cú Chuimne beginning of the 8th century with the Collectio Canonum Hibernensis the most significant canonical collections of the early Middle Ages together, thanks to the close contacts to Brittany rapidly throughout should disseminate Western Europe. Rubin died in the year 726
The Hibernensis is an indication that the creators must have been an extensive library. In addition to the Vulgate Greek, African and Gallic Council resolutions cited in Hibernensis. Just as the authors of the Statuta ecclesiae antiqua and the papal decretals were known. Exegetical writings, including Origen, Jerome, Augustine, Isidore, Gregory I. and Gregory of Nazianzus were also cited.
Adoption of the Augustinian rule
Canons Regular as opposed to monks found only in the 11th century under Leo IX. Support, who saw a way to much-needed reforms on the European continent here. In Ireland Canons Regular were introduced under the Rule of St. Augustine by Malachi, probably already in 1134 under the direction of Imar Ua h- Aedacháin in Armagh. The adoption of standardized rules, such as those of Augustine or of Benedict, was recommended in 1139 on the second Lateran Council. Since this time closely coincided with the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, is not always clear whether it was taken over in the wake of the Irish reform movement or due to the support of the invaders in the individual case. This also applies to the monastery Molana.
1170 landed near the Monastery Raymond FitzGerald, who was sent by Strongbow, Army leaders during the campaign to Leinster from 1169 to 1171 under Henry II to Ireland. After he had taken the monastery, he seems to have made friends with the monks and estimated the associated hospital. According to tradition, Raymond FitzGerald is considered founders. Accordingly, it is also assumed that Raymond FitzGerald was buried in the monastery. Reliable evidence of this is not.
From the obtained correspondence with Rome shows that in the 14th century began, some long-lasting disputes over land. Later, in 1450, became the Prior John Makenneri by Donald O'Sullivan, an official in the diocese of Ardfert, indicted. In 1462 there was the monastery in a bad state of repair, which is why those a discharge was granted to visit the monastery and gave alms. Nevertheless, it was reported in the correspondence with Rome, there was still a large number of monks, and caring for the sick and needy was assured. A year later the Prior Thady O'Morrissey was recalled to the priory in Waterford, according to Maurice O'Ronan ungesetzmäßige way gained control of the monastery for two years. This only ended when Pope Paul II Donald Obreyn appointed Prior. Later, in 1475, it was reported that the monastery was still impoverished, the religious life of the canons had, however, improved.
Reformation and modern times
During the Reformation all monasteries were dissolved in the manor of Henry VIII (1491-1547) and in each case examined. The assessment and resolution of the monastery Molana performed 1541st Thus there was a church, the cloister, quarters and all that was necessary for the operation of agriculture. The monastery included 380 acres of land, three weirs for catching salmon, a water mill and four parishes. The property had been appraised in peacetime to 26 pounds and 15 shillings. However, since ongoing rebellions made the usability of the country in some cases impossible, the estimate was reduced to 72 shillings.
On December 21, 1550, the monastery as a fief fell to James Fitzgerald, the 14th Earl of Desmond, who allowed a continuation of the monastic life. 1575 was the property because of the Desmond rebellions back to the English crown back, was given by this in the same year as a fief to John Thickpenny from Youghal. In the associated bit later written document of 24 November 1577 is a further list of possessions. Among other things, here lands in Temple Michael, Kilnicannanagh, Donmone and Deskartie were called. Patrick Power (1862-1951), who occupied himself as a priest in County Waterford life intensively with the regional church history, this Deskartie identified as a piece of land at Ardmore. In Kilnicannagh it could be so suspected Patrick Power to act in the land of Ballinatray or a clerical error for Kilcockan. In addition, two other currently not known river islands were called, probably aufgingen later in land reclamation at Youghal.
From 1580 there is a report on British troops, who visited as part of the Desmond rebellions orphan monastic island and on this occasion profaned the Convent and including a portrait of the founder of the monastery Máel Anfaid burned. According to the report of the arsonists was immediately mentally ill and died three days later.
John Thickpenny died in winter 1585/86, after which his widow Anne Thickpenny strove therefore, to take over the fief. However, the came Sir Walter Raleigh before, the fief was awarded on July 25, 1587 by Elizabeth I.. Following his conviction on November 17, 1603 his property was confiscated, including the monastery Molana and then awarded as fief to Sir Richard Boyle again. After the execution of Sir Walter Raleigh on October 29, 1619 succeeded Sir Richard Boyle to acquire the entire previous lands of Raleigh in the counties of Cork and Waterford favorable; Boyle was raised shortly afterwards Earl of Cork.
Already in 1600 the buildings were so overgrown with ivy that it was almost impossible to investigate the architectural features. Accordingly, the system fell slowly into ruin. Having a sister Richard Boyle einheiratete in the Smyth family, the monastery came by inheritance into the possession of this family, in the vicinity of the monastery, built in 1795 a manor house together with a surrounding park. In order to integrate the ruins of the monastery in the park, two dams were built in 1806, which since then connect the island with the mainland. The monastery and its associated manor were later sold several times and still are to this day (2007) in private ownership.
Architecture
About the buildings from the early Christian period is yet unknown. In general it can be assumed that in Ireland in this period assume that the nearest building materials were used. Since then oak stood in Ireland widely available, this was one of the preferred building materials. The name of the island suggests that oaks were sufficiently available locally. Unlike the west coast of Ireland and on the Atlantic islands, which significantly rougher weather are exposed to very sheltered position enforced in the valley of the Blackwater not necessarily the use of stone as a building material.
Only later, but time well before the Anglo-Norman invasion in the 12th century, churches were built in stone increasingly. This time period comes from the nave of the monastery, which is sized quite generous with 17.07 m long and 7.47 m wide. Typical of this period of construction is the preferred use of fairly large stones that were possible, carefully chosen and arranged so that a relatively high degree of accuracy was achieved. The special architectural details from the period, however, are lost. To the west window has not survived in its original form, the entire east gable with the old east window was later broken through to tie the nave to the choir, as well as all passages have been bricked up later. Although it can be taken as certain that the nave dates from the period before the invasion, is due to the lack of windows and portals in original condition accurate dating very difficult, and in the previous literature, this was avoided for this reason.
All other preserved buildings were erected in the 13th century with some later additions. A dating is here due to the acquisition of the early English style possible was either the English and Irish monasteries through relationships with each other (as in Boyle ) or by the influence of the Anglo-Norman invaders. It was common during this time period that entered the country specifically to builders and artists from England. Typical of this style are the very high windows that taper to a point at the top. In the choir, these windows are 4.57 m high, 2.08 m wide and narrow inside outwards to 0.56 m. Although the east window has not been preserved, but Patrick Power is due to the remnants of the fact that it was on the inside 2.08 m wide and total reached a height of 6.10 m. With six southern chancel windows, a large east window and four northern chancel windows of the choir area was very full of light. In comparison, the old nave must have been dark.
In accordance with the architecture of the Cistercians in Ireland and the few other similar extensive obtained Augustinian houses in Ireland from the same time period as in Athassel Kells and the other buildings of the monastery were located south of the nave. On the island there was no alternative to, as the nave was already quite close to the northern shore. Immediately to the south of the nave joined at the courtyard, which is 14.86 m wide in east-west direction and in north-south direction is 19,74 m long. Around the courtyard are grouped next to the nave in three further north wing, all of which were connected with doors to patio.
The east wing was two storeys. The ground floor is closed directly to the choir vestry. Further south, followed by other rooms with the chapter house, the parlatorium and the staircase, which granted access to the dormitory on the top floor. For chapter house was a three-part window with a height of 1.68 m and an inner width of 1.37 m.
With 21,49 m length and 6.17 m width was the refectory, which took the entire southern wing to complete, dimensioned particularly generous. Large parts of the southern wall collapsed today. However, was preserved on the south side of a window of the early English style, and equipped with a round-arched window, which apparently served as a lectern. Together with the two windows in the west gable, the room was well supplied with good light.
The west wing housed the kitchen, which had a door on the north side next to the door to the courtyard. Here, in an unusual niche that was formed from the walls of the old church hall, the courtyard and the west wing and stayed out free only to the west, was a well built, but which is now completely buried. Right next door is in close proximity to the well a wall opening through which the scooped water from the well was allowed to flow directly into the kitchen.
Only later was added a two-storey extension, which joined on the north side of the choir. This probably served as the quarters for the Prior to each of the two levels, there was only one room, 7.32 m long and 5.59 m wide. In the northwest corner of cultivation led a small spiral staircase leading to the upper rooms. The lower room had two doors that led to the choir and to the outside.
Some structural changes can be attributed to the activities of the Smyth family at the beginning of the 19th century. These include a pointed arch entrance on the north side of the old church hall, a founder Máel Anfaid in the historic incorrect habit of the Augustinian performing statue in the middle of the courtyard, a memorial plaque on the east pediment of the refectory and a memorial stone at the lectern in the refectory, the alleged window that was buried at this point Raymond FitzGerald. While it is quite plausible that his tomb is located in the monastery, but noted in the refectory would be unthinkable.