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Old Mellifont Abbey
Drogheda, Co. Louth
Family friendly
Free car parking
Cloudy days
Old Mellifont Abbey, Ireland’s first Cistercian monastery, founded in 1142. At the site, located just 10 minutes from Drogheda, in Tullyallen County, Louth. visitors can view features like the monks’ chapter house and an octagonal lavabo.

Old Mellifont Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland, founded in 1142 by St Malachy of Armagh. The site is located just a 10 minute drive from Drogheda and features an unusual octagonal lavabo in which the monks washed their hands, dating from circa 1200.

The Old Mellifont Abbey Visitor Centre houses an interesting exhibition on the work of masons in the Middle Ages, with fine examples of their craft on display, alongside remnants of the abbey’s gate and its church.

Access to the site by a stone stairway only, while the Visitor Centre is completely accessible for guests with disabilities. Guests are advised to wear shoes suitable for uneven terrain, as there are gravel pathways.

Tips from locals

Why not take the opportunity to visit the nearby Battle of the Boyne Centre.

Contact details
Mellifont, Tullyallen Village, Co. Louth, A92 K682, Ireland
Visit duration

We recommend planning to spend 1 to 1.5 hours here.

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