Muckross Abbey

{{Short description|Major ecclesiastical site in the Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Use Irish English|date=June 2021}}

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| established = 1448

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| location = Killarney National Park, County Kerry

| country =Ireland

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File:Muckross Abbey Friary 2014.jpg

File:Muckross Abbey, Killarney. County Kerry, Ireland-LCCN2002717429.jpg

Muckross Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Locha Léin and Mainistir Mhucrois) is one of the major ecclesiastical sites found in the Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary for the Observantine Franciscans by Donal McCarthy Mor.{{Cite web|url=http://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/Muckross%20Abbey/Muckross%20Abbey.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323215323/http://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/Muckross%20Abbey/Muckross%20Abbey.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-23|title=Killarney National Park|date=2016-03-23|access-date=2018-07-12}}

It has had a violent history and has been damaged and reconstructed many times. The friars were often subjected to raids by marauding groups{{who|date=November 2024}} and were persecuted by Cromwellian forces under Lord Ludlow.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vacationkillarney.com/Dan-the-feathers.htm|title=Dan the Feathers - Killarney Ireland|website=www.vacationkillarney.com|access-date=2018-07-12}} Today the abbey is largely roofless, but is otherwise generally quite well-preserved with safe stairways providing access to the upper storey.{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=573|isbn=0 906362 43 1 |access-date=}} Its most striking feature is a central courtyard, which contains a large yew tree and is surrounded by a vaulted cloister.Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Volume 2. 1892.

File:Groundplan of muckross abbey Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.png

In the 17th and 18th centuries, it became the burial place for prominent County Kerry poets O'Donoghue, Ó Rathaille and Ó Súilleabháin, while Piaras Feiritéar is buried in the graveyard just outside.{{Cite web|url=http://killarney-insight.com/attractions.html|title=Sightseeing - Visitor Attractions in Killarney|website=killarney-insight.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-12}}