Great Connell Priory

Great Connell Priory are the remains of an Augustinian monastery situated along the eastern bank of the River Liffey near Newbridge. The site preserves fragments of the Lady Chapel, sections of its boundary walls, and a graveyard containing headstones spanning from the 1800s onward.

The priory was established in 1202 as a daughter house connected to Llanthony Priory in Wales. Its founder, Meiler FitzHenry, was later buried at the site, making it an important burial location in the region.

The graveyard here contains headstones from the 19th and early 20th centuries that reveal how families marked their connections to this religious place. The stones and their placement show the social networks and local customs that shaped this community over generations.

The site is accessible during daylight hours and visitors can walk among the ruins and explore the graveyard at their own pace. Wear sturdy footwear since the ground is uneven and the riverside location can be wet and muddy, especially after rain.

Stone from these ruins was quarried during the 1800s to build the British Cavalry Barracks in Newbridge, a common practice for abandoned religious sites. This recycling of materials means parts of the original structure still stand in a different form elsewhere in the town.

Location: County Kildare

Inception: 1202

Founders: Meiler Fitzhenry

GPS coordinates: 53.17247,-6.77560

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:22