Monastery of Mohill-Manchan

Monastery of Mohill-Manchan is an early medieval monastic complex in County Leitrim that once spread across multiple townlands. Visible today are fragments of an old schoolhouse and the foundation of a round tower positioned beneath the current Saint Mary's Church.

Saint Manchan founded the monastery in the early 500s, which later transformed into an Augustinian priory around 1216. This continuity ended when Cromwellian forces destroyed the complex in the 1650s.

The site is named after Saint Manchan, whose veneration shaped religious life in the region for centuries. Visitors can sense how this place served as a center of faith and learning in early medieval times.

The site is easily accessible near the town center of Mohill and remains partly integrated with the standing church structure. Some ruins are positioned beneath the current church, which limits what can be fully observed at ground level.

During the Irish Confederate period, the monastery experienced a brief revival before final destruction. This moment of reuse represents a rare example of religious resilience during political upheaval.

GPS coordinates: 53.92259,-7.86557

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:10