Churches, Abbeys and Monasteries
Old Mellifont Abbey
Contact
Tullyallen
Drogheda
Louth
Republic of Ireland
+353 41 9826459
In 1142, St Malachy brought the European monastic lifestyle to Ireland when he founded Old Mellifont Abbey, the country’s first Cistercian monastery. The site is located just a 10-minute drive from Drogheda in County Louth.
Visitors can view the remains of Old Mellifont, which include a unique octagonal lavabo where the monks washed their hands. There are also remnants of the abbey’s gate and its church. For more information about the site, guests can stop into the visitor centre, which houses a related exhibition.
The visitor centre is completely accessible for guests with disabilities, but the main historical site is reachable only by stone stairway. Guests should wear shoes suitable for uneven terrain, as there are gravel pathways.