Kildermot Abbey is a former Premonstratensian Priory and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.

Location

Kildermot Abbey is located on the west bank of Ballymore Lough, 1 km northwest of

Attymass Attymass () is a village in County Mayo, Ireland. History Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of ringforts (in the townlands of Carrick and Kilgellia) and several crannóg sites at nearby Ballymore Lough. The Roman Cath ...

History

Kildermot Abbey was founded Premonstratensian Canons (Norbertines), who were already established in the area at this time. It is possible the Abbey and its townland are now known as Kildermot due to patronage by the

Mac Diarmada Mac Diarmada (anglicised as MacDermot or McDermott), also spelled Mac Diarmata, is an Irish surname, and the surname of the ruling dynasty of Moylurg, a kingdom that existed in Connacht from the 10th to 16th centuries. The last ruling king was T ...

; no connection to any St Dermot can be claimed. The Abbey was partially destroyed after the Penal Laws of 1697. Two

holy water font A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water which is generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is often placed at the base of a crucifix or religious representation. It is used in the Catholic Church, Anglican Churche ...

s from the Abbey were recovered from the lake by a Mr. Thomas Gallagher. One has been returned to the Abbey, while the other is in the National Museum of Ireland. Kildermot Abbey became a National Monument in 1939. Dawn

Mass Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different eleme ...

is celebrated annually at the ruins on

Easter Sunday Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the ''Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samuel P ...

Building

The church's west

gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...

is pulled down, but the foundation is still traceable. Its side walls and east gable remain. In this gable is a lancet window, widened inside and arched above, fashioned of rudely cut stones. The whole church measures .

References

{{Reflist Premonstratensian monasteries in the Republic of Ireland Religion in County Mayo Archaeological sites in County Mayo National Monuments in County Mayo