Clare Island Abbey

Welcome to Clare Island Abbey, more formally known as the Abbey of Saint Mary. We are standing on one of the most remote and historically rich sites in the West of Ireland. …

We move into the interior, specifically to the area around the altar. It is here that Clare Island Abbey reveals its greatest secret: a series of 15th-century wall paintings. …

Within the abbey walls lies the tomb of the O'Malley family, the traditional rulers of Clare Island and the surrounding seas. The O'Malleys were a powerful seafaring clan, and their motto—'Terra Marique Putens' (Valiant by Sea…

As we walk through the nave and toward the choir, we can observe the fundamental principles of Cistercian architecture. The order, founded by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, advocated for a return to simplicity and a rejection of the…

Step outside the abbey and look toward the village of Kill Land and the sea. The location of the abbey was no accident. …

The fact that we can see the paintings today is a miracle of modern conservation. The Office of Public Works (OPW) took over the site as a national monument in 1893, but the major restoration work happened much later. …

Finally, walk a short distance from the abbey entrance toward the coast. From here, you have a panoramic view of Clew Bay, with its reputed 365 islands—one for every day of the year. …

As we conclude our tour of Clare Island Abbey, we carry with us the images of a world long gone but vividly preserved. The 15th-century wall paintings, with their strange beasts and martial scenes, offer a unique window into the…