St John's Abbey

St. John's Abbey is a medieval Augustinian monastery in Kilkenny featuring stone ruins with a seven-light window on the east side. The structure contains late medieval tombs adorned with detailed carved religious figures and decorative stonework.

The monastery was founded in 1212 by William Marshal, First Earl of Pembroke, and held its first Mass in 1220 within its walls. These early years established it as a significant religious center in the region.

The chapel remains active as a parish church and shows architectural features built across different medieval periods. The space continues to serve as a place for worship much as it did centuries ago.

The site sits on John Street near the Butler Gallery and other medieval buildings in central Kilkenny. Visitors can walk through the ruins at their own pace and view the stone carvings up close.

The altar tomb of the Purcell family dating to 1500 displays detailed stone carvings depicting the Crucifixion and the twelve Apostles. This burial slab demonstrates the remarkable skill of medieval stone carvers.