Overview
Burriscarra Abbey lies in the picturesque barony of Carra, just a mile west of the small village of Carnacon and set against the tranquil backdrop of Lough Carra. The ruins sit on a gentle rise that offers sweeping views across the lake, making the site both a historic landmark and a scenic spot for a quiet walk. The abbey is a National Monument under the care of the Office of Public Works and is freely accessible to anyone wishing to explore its medieval stonework.
History
The abbey’s story begins around 1298 when Adam de Staunton – whose family later adopted the name Mac Evilly – obtained permission from the Red Earl of Ulster to establish a Carmelite priory on the site. Some sources suggest the location may have hosted an earlier monastic settlement, although no physical evidence survives.
The Carmelite community abandoned the house before 1383. In 1412 the Staunton family invited the Augustinian friars of nearby Ballinrobe to take over, and a papal decree in 1413 formally transferred the property to the Order of Saint Augustine. A fire in 1430 damaged the church, but the friars promptly rebuilt it, inserting the present 15th‑century windows and adding a south aisle with a two‑arch arcade.
Cromwellian confiscations in the mid‑17th century ended monastic use. In 1607 James I granted the lands to John King, who sold them to Oliver Bowen the following year; the property later passed to Sir Henry Lynch, whose family retained it until the 19th century. The Office of Public Works took ownership in the 20th century and carried out stabilisation work in the 1960s.
The surviving fabric is largely 15th‑century, with a few 13th‑century niches in the lower church. Notable decorative elements include carved stone heads on the sedilia and a pair of modest gargoyles that once drained rainwater from the roof.
What to See & Do
The rectangular church is the core of the ruin. Visitors can admire the traceried east window, the two‑arch arcade of the south aisle, and the stone piscina used for washing liturgical vessels. The sedilia – stone seats for the clergy – retain their original hood moulding and carved heads, though weathering has softened the detail.
To the north of the church lie the foundations of the cloister courtyard. While the arcade itself has vanished, the stone footings allow you to imagine the daily rhythm of the friars moving between the church, cloister and domestic range.
Beyond the ecclesiastical buildings, the remains of the sacristy, east range and a fragment of the west range survive – a rarity for an Augustinian house. These domestic structures hint at where the friars ate, slept and worked.
The site also offers a glimpse of medieval stone craftsmanship: the carved gargoyles perched on the south wall, and the weathered heads on the sedilia, provide tangible links to the artisans who built the abbey.
Walking & Exploration
The abbey forms part of a gentle self‑guided walking circuit around the north‑east shore of Lough Carra. From the lay‑by at the Carnacon turn‑off, a short, well‑marked path leads to the ruins and then continues along the lakeshore, offering views of the water, the surrounding woodlands and the historic stone causeways that date back to the Bronze Age.
The trail is suitable for casual walkers and families; it is largely flat and takes about 30 minutes to complete the loop that returns to the car park. Interpretive panels near the abbey give brief details of the monastic history and of the surrounding archaeological landscape.
Nearby Attractions
Burriscarra Abbey pairs well with other historic sites in the Lough Carra area:
- Ballintubber Abbey – just under 4 km to the south, this 13th‑century Augustinian abbey is still a place of pilgrimage.
- Lough Carra causeway trail – a self‑guided walk that showcases stone causeways dating from 1000‑1500 BC, offering a deeper archaeological context for the region.
- Castlecarra – the ruins of a 13th‑century tower house overlooking the lake, reachable via a short side road from the abbey’s lay‑by.
These sites can easily be combined into a half‑day itinerary, especially for visitors interested in medieval monasticism and early Irish landscape archaeology.
Practical Information
- Opening hours: Open year‑round, free entry. No formal opening times; daylight is recommended for safety and photography.
- Parking: A small lay‑by on the R310 near Carnacon provides free parking for a few cars. The path from the lay‑by to the ruins is well‑trodden but uneven.
- Accessibility: The ground is uneven grass and stone; the site is not wheelchair‑friendly.
- Facilities: No visitor facilities on site – bring water and a snack if you plan to stay for a while.
- Dog policy: Dogs are allowed on a leash, but keep them away from the fragile stonework.
- Navigation: GPS coordinates 53.730929 N, 9.245740 W.
- Further information: The Office of Public Works website provides details on conservation work and any seasonal notices.
Burriscarra Abbey offers a quiet encounter with Ireland’s monastic past, set in a landscape that has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Whether you are tracing the footsteps of Carmelite and Augustinian friars or simply seeking a peaceful spot by the lake, the ruins invite contemplation and discovery.