St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin

St. Mary's Abbey is a medieval Cistercian abbey in central Dublin with remaining stone walls and a vaulted chapter house visible today. The underground remains sit below modern street level and show how the monastery was once structured and organized.

The abbey was founded in 1139 and shifted to Cistercian rule just years later, becoming one of Ireland's most powerful religious centers. This change brought new organization and growth that shaped the site for centuries to come.

The chapter house displays medieval floor tiles and stone carvings that show the skill of the monks who lived here. These carved details and decorative tiles reveal the craftsmanship that thrived within the monastery walls.

Access to the underground remains is only possible through guided tours that operate during specific months, so plan your visit accordingly. The site sits in the city center and is easy to reach on foot, but expect to descend underground into a space now housed within a modern building.

The abbey lay hidden beneath a bakery for generations until excavations in the 1880s uncovered it several feet below the modern street surface. This unexpected discovery under the city saved the site from complete loss.