Boyle Abbey

An impressive and well preserved Cistercian Monastery

An impressive and well preserved Cistercian Monastery which was founded in the 12th century and took about 60 years to complete the build. The monastery was laid out according to the usual Cistercian plan, a church on the north side of a roughly rectangular cloister area, with a chapter house for meetings of the monks on a second side, a kitchen and a refectory on the third, and probably store houses and dormitory above on the fourth.

The ruins are impressive, dominated by a squat square tower that was added above the crossing sometime in the thirteenth century. A restored gatehouse of 16th/17th century houses an exhibition.

Open 5th April-26th Sept, Daily 10am-6pm. Last admission 45 minutes before closing

Adults €3; Child/Student €1; OAP/Group €2; Family €8.

View Similar Tourist Attractions

• Caherconnell Fort
• The Hunt Museum
• Barryscourt Castle
• Portumna Castle & Gardens
• Adare Castle
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
• St Marys Abbey
• Galway City Museum
• Armagh Planetarium
• Jameson Experience Midleton
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• National Leprechaun Museum
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Dungarvan Castle
• St Stephens Green
• Doneraile Wildlife Park
• Fort Lucan
• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• King House
• Larne Museum & Arts Centre
• Natural History Museum
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
• Derrynane House
• Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
• Thomond Park Stadium
• Dunmore Cave
• Galway Atlantaquaria
• Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
• Ross Castle
• Skerries Mills
• National Transport Museum
• Aillwee Cave
• Glenveagh National Park
• Burren National Park
• Arigna Mining Experience
• Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
• Skellig Michael
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
• Charles Fort
• Clonmacnoise
• Ennis Friary
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
• Aughnanure Castle
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Famine Warhouse
• Blarney Castle
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
• Viking Splash Tours
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
• Eagles Flying
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
• Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
• Ulster Museum
• Titanic Belfast
• Battle of the Boyne
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
• Glendalough
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
• Funtasia Waterpark
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Desmond Castle
• Lusk Heritage Centre
• Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
• Aviva Stadium
• Old Mellifont Abbey
• National Library of Ireland
• Garylough Mill
• Swiss Cottage
• Patrick Pearses Cottage
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• The Main Guard
• Dromore Wood
• Farmleigh House & Estate
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
• National Gallery of Ireland
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
• Donegal Castle
• The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
• Emo Court
• Avondale House & Forest Park
• Government Buildings
• Rothe House & Garden
• Kilkenny Castle
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
• Connemara National Park
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
• Malahide Castle
• Cahir Castle
• Ceide Fields
• Guinness Storehouse
• Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
• Kerry County Museum
• Crag Cave
• Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
• National Wax Museum Plus
• Carrickfergus Museum
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• Chester Beatty Library
• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• Athenry Castle
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
• Hill of Tara
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
• Iveagh Gardens
• Ferns Castle
• King Johns Castle
• Queens University
• National Photographic Archive
• Boyle Abbey
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
• Phoenix Park
• Donegal County Museum
• Dingle Oceanworld
• Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
• Funtasia Bettystown
• Sligo Abbey
• Bushmills Distillery
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
• Craggaunowen - The Living Past
• National Concert Hall
• Dun Aonghasa
• Armagh County Museum
• Scattery Island Centre
• Aras an Uachtarain
• Belfast Zoo
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
• House of Waterford Crystal
• Ulster American Folk Park
• Ballyhack Castle
• Desmond Hall
• Maynooth Castle
• The Old Jameson Distillery
• Mizen Head Signal Station
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Ardfert Cathedral
• Giants Causeway
• Dublin Zoo
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• Dublinia
• Russborough House
• Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
• Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
• Leopardstown Racecourse
• Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
• Reginalds Tower
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
• Ormond Castle
• Tower Museum
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
• Navan Centre & Fort
• The Ark
• Jerpoint Abbey
• Rathfarnham Castle
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
• Rock of Cashel
• Glasnevin Museum
• Parkes Castle
• Dublin Castle
• Little Museum of Dublin
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
• National Sea Life Centre
• Coole Park
• St Marys Church
• Castletown House
• Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
• Adare Heritage Centre
• Tintern Abbey
• Trim Castle
• Tayto Park
• Clare Museum
• Listowel Castle
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
• The Science Gallery
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
• Florence Court
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
• Casino Marino
• Killarney National Park
• Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
• Museum at the Mill
• Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Lough Key House
  (3.2km)SE
• M. J. Henry
  (9.1km)NE
• Kilronan Castle
  (12.1km)NE
• St Georges Terrace
  (13.5km)SE
• Vittos Restaurant & Wine Bar
  (13.6km)SE
• Bush Hotel
  (13.6km)SE
• Oarsman, The
  (13.6km)SE
• Cryan's Hotel
  (13.7km)SE
• Landmark Hotel, The
  (13.8km)SE
• Barge Steakhouse, The
  (15.2km)NE
• Cottage Restaurant, The
  (18.0km)SE
• Lough Allen Hotel & Spa
  (18.7km)NE
• Sweet Geranium Café
  (18.8km)NE
• White Hag Irish Brewing Company
  (19.4km)NW
• Coopershill House Irish Venison
  (19.9km)NW
• Coopershill House
  (19.9km)NW
• Temple House
  (24.4km)NW
• Markree Castle
  (24.7km)NW
• Clonalis House
  (25.8km)SW
• Nook Café and Restaurant
  (26.7km)NW

Self Catering

• Temple House - Gardener's Cottage
  (24.4km)NW
• The Courtyard at Clonalis
  (25.8km)SW
• The Schoolhouse at Annaghmore
  (25.8km)NW

Farmers Markets

• Boyle - Origin - County Roscommon - Saturdays
  (0.4km)SW
• Carrick on Shannon - Co Leitrim - Thursdays
  (13.5km)SE
• Sligo - County Sligo - Saturdays
  (35.7km)NW
• Origin (Manorhamilton) - Co Leitrim - Fridays
  (37.8km)NE
• Roscommon - Co Roscommon - Fridays
  (38.7km)SE
• Longford - Co Longford - Fridays
  (42.7km)SE
• Claremorris Country - Co Mayo - Fridays
  (54.0km)SW

Tourist Attractions

• Boyle Abbey
  (0.0km)NW
• King House
  (0.3km)NW
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
  (3.6km)NW
• Arigna Mining Experience
  (17.0km)NW
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
  (21.8km)NW
• Eagles Flying
  (22.9km)NW
• Parkes Castle
  (32.5km)NW
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
  (34.1km)NW
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
  (44.7km)NW
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
  (47.6km)NW
• Florence Court
  (48.5km)NW
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
  (59.3km)NW

Golf Courses

• County Sligo Golf Club
  (41.3km) NW
• Castle Hume Golf Club
  (61.0km) NE
• Lough Erne Golf Resort
  (61.8km) NE

Gardens

• Strokestown Park House & Garden
  (25.4km)SE
• Castlecoote House & Gardens
  (39.7km)SE

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Carrick on Shannon
  (6.8km) SE
• Knockvicar
  (8.3km) NE
• Cootehall
  (9.0km) NE
• Boyle
  (9.1km) NE
• Ballyfarnon
  (12.6km) NE
• Castlebaldwin
  (12.8km) NW
• Carrick-on-Shannon
  (13.6km) SE
• Leitrim
  (15.2km) NE
• Arigna
  (17.0km) NE
• Jamestown
  (18.0km) SE