Canon Island Abbey

Canon Island Abbey is an Augustinian monastery on an island in County Clare that consists of roofless stone structures arranged around a central courtyard. The complex features a church with Romanesque windows, two chapels, a bell tower, a cloister, and a corner tower, with the remains of various service buildings still visible.

The monastery was founded in 1189 when the king of Thomond granted the island to Augustinian Canons from Clare Abbey. The community remained here for centuries until the site was eventually abandoned.

Since 1990, descendants of former island residents and nearby villagers gather each July for a mass at the abbey grounds. This annual tradition keeps the connection between local families and their shared heritage alive.

The island is reached by boat, and visitors can explore the open ruins at their own pace. Good footwear is recommended since the ground is uneven, and weather protection is worth considering.

The site sits at the meeting point of two major river estuaries and is the largest structure among roughly 25 small islands in this water network. This remote location has helped protect the ruins from many threats over the centuries.