Mellifont

Mellifont Abbey

An Mhainistir Mhór
Lavabo of Mellifont Abbey
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Order	Cistercians
Established	1142 (Original) 1938 (Current)
Disestablished	1539 (Original)
Diocese	Armagh
People
Founder(s)	Saint Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh
Architecture
Status	Active
Style	Cistercian
Site
Location	Collon, County Louth, Ireland
Coordinates	53°44′32″N 6°27′59″W / 53.742317°N 6.466481°W / 53.742317; -6.466481Coordinates: 53°44′32″N 6°27′59″W / 53.742317°N 6.466481°W / 53.742317; -6.466481
Public access	Yes

External 3D model

3D model Mellifont Abbey.

Mellifont Abbey (Irish: An Mhainistir Mhór, literally "the big abbey"), located close to Drogheda in County Louth, was the first Cistercian abbey to be built in Ireland.

Founded in 1142 on the orders of Saint Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh, Mellifont Abbey sits on the banks of the River Mattock, some ten km (6 miles) north-west of Drogheda.

By 1170, Mellifont had one hundred monks and three hundred lay brothers. 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; it was the main abbey in Ireland until it was closed in 1539, when it became a fortified house.

An important synod was held in Mellifont in 1152 as recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters, which states that the synod was attended by bishops and kings along with the papal legate John Paparo (Saint Malachy having died some 4 years beforehand). The consecration of the church took place in 1157 and asserted Church authority by banishing the King of Meath, Donnchadh Ua Maeleachlainn.

Various kings gave donations to assist this foundation: Muirchertach Ua Lochlainn, provincial king of Ulster, gave cattle, some gold and also a local town land, Donnchad Ua Cearbhall, the king of Airgialla (Oriel), who had donated the land, also gave gold, while Derbforgaill, the wife of Tigernan Ua Ruairc gave gold, a chalice and altar cloths.