Old Mellifont Abbey

The first Cistercian monastery to be built in Ireland

Mellifont Abbey resides on the banks of the River Mattock and was the first Cistercian monastery to be built in Ireland, founded in 1142 by St Malachy of Armagh.

The Abbey became the model for other Cistercian abbeys built in Ireland, with its formal style of architecture imported from the abbeys of the same order in France, its most unusual feature is the octagonal Lavabo (where the monks washed their hands before eating). Little of the original Abbey remains, save the lavabo, some Romanesque arches and a 14th-century chapter house.

The Visitor Centre houses an exhibition on the work of masons in the Middle Ages with fine examples of their craft on display.

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

Free

View Similar Tourist Attractions

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

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• No. 3 Wine Bar & Restaurant
  (4.1km)NW
• Newgrange Gold Premium Irish Seed Oils
  (5.1km)SW
• Georges Patisserie
  (6.2km)SW
• Rossnaree
  (6.2km)SW
• Conyngham Arms Hotel
  (6.4km)SW
• Slane Castle & Distillery
  (7.2km)SW
• Rock Farm Slane
  (7.3km)SW
• Belview Eggs
  (7.9km)SE
• Stockwell Artisan Foods
  (8.1km)SE
• Bru Bar Bistro
  (8.1km)SE
• Bare Food Company
  (8.2km)SE
• D’Vine at Distillery House
  (8.2km)SE
• Scholars Townhouse Hotel
  (8.2km)SE
• Kirwans Fish Cart
  (8.2km)SE
• Boann Distillery
  (8.4km)SE
• D Hotel
  (8.6km)SE
• Tankardstown House
  (9.5km)SW
• Sage & Stone
  (10.1km)SE
• Quintessential Wines
  (11.5km)SE
• Boyne Valley Blue Farmhouse Goats Cheese
  (12.1km)SW

Self Catering

• Tankardstown House & Cottages
  (9.5km)SW
• The Cottages
  (15.7km)SE
• Clonabreany House
  (39.4km)SW
• Castletown Gatelodges
  (44.7km)SW
• No. 25 Eustace Street
  (46.2km)SE
• The Merrion Mews & Stables
  (47.1km)SE
• Rostrevor Holidays
  (48.1km)NE

Farmers Markets

• Drogheda - Co Louth - Thursdays
  (8.1km)SE
• Laytown - Sonairte Co Meath - 1st & 3rd Sunday each Month
  (15.6km)SE
• Castlebellingham - County Louth - First Sunday each month
  (18.1km)NE
• Balbriggan Fish & - Co Dublin
  (23.9km)SE
• Kells - County Meath - Saturdays
  (27.2km)SW
• Kells - Co Meath - Saturdays
  (27.2km)SW
• Dundalk - County Louth - Fridays
  (29.7km)NE
• Skerries - Skerries Mills - County Dublin
  (30.0km)SE
• Fingal Food Fayre - Rush - County Dublin
  (34.5km)SE
• Fingal - Swords Co Dublin - Saturdays
  (35.4km)SE
• Carnaross Local Food - Co Meath - Saturdays
  (36.4km)NW
• Malahide - County Dublin - Saturdays
  (38.3km)SE
• Ballymun - Dublin - Every Thursday
  (40.7km)SE
• Castleknock Village Food
  (41.2km)SE
• Portmarnock - Co Dublin - Sundays
  (41.4km)SE
• Honest2Goodness - Glasnevin Dublin 11 - Saturdays
  (42.7km)SE
• Liffey Valley Shopping Centre - Dublin 22 - Fridays
  (43.5km)SE
• Smithfield Outdoor Food - Dublin 1 - Fridays
  (45.6km)SE
• Monaghan Country - Co Monaghan - last Saturday each month
  (45.8km)NW
• Red Stables Food - Clontarf Dublin - Saturdays
  (45.8km)SE
• Temple Bar Food - Dublin City - Saturdays
  (46.1km)SE
• Coppinger Row Outdoor Food - Thursdays
  (46.5km)SE
• Point Village - Dublin - Saturdays & Sundays
  (46.6km)SE
• Dublin Food Co-op - Dublin 8 - Thursdays & Saturdays
  (46.7km)SE
• Pearse Street - Saturdays
  (46.8km)SE
• Howth - County Dublin - Sundays
  (47.1km)SE
• Grand Canal Village - Dublin -
  (47.3km)SE
• Harcourt Street - Dublin 2 - Thursdays
  (47.4km)SE
• Mespil Road Gourmet Food - Dublin 4 - Thursdays
  (47.7km)SE
• Ranelagh - Dublin - Sundays
  (48.2km)SE
• Celbridge - Village at Lyons - Co Kildare - Fridays
  (49.5km)SW

Tourist Attractions

• Old Mellifont Abbey
  (0.0km)SE
• Battle of the Boyne
  (4.2km)SE
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
  (5.5km)SE
• Funtasia Waterpark
  (7.3km)SE
• Funtasia Bettystown
  (15.3km)SE
• Hill of Tara
  (20.7km)SE
• Tayto Park
  (22.2km)SE
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
  (27.3km)SE
• Skerries Mills
  (30.0km)SE
• Trim Castle
  (30.4km)SE
• Lusk Heritage Centre
  (31.1km)SE
• Malahide Castle
  (38.7km)SE
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
  (39.0km)SE
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
  (41.0km)SE
• Maynooth Castle
  (41.1km)SE
• Fort Lucan
  (41.4km)SE
• Farmleigh House & Estate
  (42.5km)SE
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
  (42.9km)SE
• Glasnevin Museum
  (43.0km)SE
• Castletown House
  (43.3km)SE
• Phoenix Park
  (43.5km)SE
• Aras an Uachtarain
  (43.7km)SE
• Casino Marino
  (44.2km)SE
• Dublin Zoo
  (44.6km)SE
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
  (44.7km)SE
• Hugh Lane Gallery
  (45.2km)SE
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
  (45.5km)SE
• The Old Jameson Distillery
  (45.6km)SE
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
  (45.7km)SE
• Kilmainham Gaol
  (45.7km)SE
• National Leprechaun Museum
  (45.8km)SE
• St Marys Abbey
  (45.8km)SE
• Guinness Storehouse
  (46.1km)SE
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
  (46.1km)SE
• National Photographic Archive
  (46.1km)SE
• The Ark
  (46.1km)SE
• Christ Church Cathedral
  (46.2km)SE
• Clare Museum
  (46.2km)SE
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
  (46.2km)SE
• Dublinia
  (46.2km)SE
• National Wax Museum Plus
  (46.2km)SE
• Dublin Castle
  (46.3km)SE
• Chester Beatty Library
  (46.4km)SE
• The Science Gallery
  (46.5km)SE
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
  (46.6km)SE
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
  (46.6km)SE
• Government Buildings
  (46.8km)SE
• National Gallery of Ireland
  (46.8km)SE
• National Library of Ireland
  (46.8km)SE
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
  (46.8km)SE
• Little Museum of Dublin
  (46.9km)SE
• Natural History Museum
  (46.9km)SE
• Viking Splash Tours
  (46.9km)SE
• National Transport Museum
  (47.0km)SE
• St Stephens Green
  (47.0km)SE
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
  (47.0km)SE
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
  (47.2km)SE
• Iveagh Gardens
  (47.3km)SE
• National Concert Hall
  (47.3km)SE
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
  (47.3km)SE
• Aviva Stadium
  (48.0km)SE
• Rathfarnham Castle
  (50.8km)SE

Golf Courses

• County Louth Golf Club (Baltray)
  (13.2km) SE
• Seapoint Golf Club
  (13.9km) NE
• Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club
  (14.9km) SE
• Royal Tara Golf Club
  (20.2km) SW
• Hollywood Lakes Golf Club
  (24.8km) SE
• Headfort Golf Club
  (25.0km) SW
• Dundalk Golf Club
  (26.4km) NE
• Nuremore Hotel & Country Club
  (28.7km) NW
• Knightsbrook Golf Club
  (29.1km) SW
• Roganstown Golf & Country Club
  (31.1km) SE
• Saint Margarets Golf Club
  (34.1km) SE
• Beaverstown Golf Club
  (34.2km) SE
• County Meath Golf Club
  (34.3km) SW
• Forest Little Golf Club
  (36.5km) SE
• Island Golf Club, The
  (37.1km) SE
• Balcarrick Golf Club
  (37.5km) SE
• Greenore Golf Club
  (38.3km) NE
• Carton House Golf Club
  (39.6km) SW
• Malahide Golf Club
  (40.5km) SE
• Rathcore Golf and Country Club
  (41.0km) SW
• Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links
  (41.5km) SE
• Castleknock Golf Club
  (42.2km) SE
• Portmarnock Golf Club
  (43.1km) SE
• Saint Annes Golf Club
  (46.2km) SE
• MoyValley Golf Club
  (47.1km) SW
• Royal Dublin Golf Club, The
  (47.1km) SE
• K Club, The - Ryder Cup 2006
  (49.5km) SW
• Castle Golf Club
  (50.7km) SE

Gardens

• Listoke Gardens
  (7.8km)NE
• Beaulieu House, Gardens and Car Museum
  (11.5km)SE
• Knockabbey Castle & Gardens
  (22.3km)NW
• Ardgillan Castle & Demesne
  (26.6km)SE
• Rockfield House
  (28.9km)SW
• Grove Gardens
  (30.2km)SW
• The Talbot Botanic Gardens
  (38.8km)SE
• National Botanic Gardens
  (43.2km)SE
• Primrose Hill
  (43.3km)SE
• Loughcrew Historic Gardens
  (45.1km)SW
• Lodge Park Walled Gardens
  (48.8km)SW
• Dillon Garden, The
  (49.0km)SE
• Glendale Gardens
  (50.7km)SE
• Carysfort Lodge
  (52.8km)SE
• Ballindoolin House & Garden
  (55.1km)SW
• Williamstown Garden
  (55.3km)SW

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Collon
  (4.1km) NW
• Slane
  (6.2km) SW
• Donore
  (6.6km) SE
• Drogheda
  (8.6km) SE
• Duleek
  (10.8km) SE
• Dunleer
  (11.0km) NE
• Termonfeckin
  (13.0km) NE
• Ardee
  (13.6km) NW
• Bettystown
  (15.5km) SE
• Clogherhead
  (16.0km) NE