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Ruins, Trinity Abbey, Kilmore, Unknown Denomination

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The Premonstratensian Abbey of Trinity Island was founded probably in the middle of the 13th century as a daughter-house of the Abbey of Lough Key. The site is on the old shore at the south end of the island, where  the graveyard and ruins of the church survive. In the early 15th century the prior obtained the vicarage of Tomregan and the rectory of Keadew on the plea of the poverty of the abbey.49 In 1427 indulgences were granted to those who would give alms to restore the church from this period must date the cut stones described below. The abbey was confiscated by the Crown at the Dissolution, along with the 4½ poles of land belonging to it. After several unsuccessful attempts to establish ownership against Sir Hugh O'Reilly, it was leased to Sir Luke Dillon in 1584, and continued in the occupation of his family until the Commonwealth. The island is shewn with a building on the Escheated Counties Map.

[The Churches of County Cavan, O. Davies, The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol. 78, No. 2 (Dec., 1948), pp. 99-100 ]

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Maps

It was located at SA4200668298 (Lat/Lon 53.986266, -7.463523). You can see this on maps provided by:

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Memorial Inscriptions

Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland , v.3, No.2, 1896, 222-224
[From Francis Joseph Bigger, M.R.I.A., editor of "Ulster Journal of Archaeology"]

'In July, 1896, the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club vistited Cavan, on which occasion I took the opportunity of visiting Trinity Abbey, whilst some of the other members were naturalizing about the shores of the lake. Trinity Abbey is situated on the eastern end of a small island in Lough Oughter, of easy access from the mainland. There is no appearance of moastic remains on the island save the ruined wall of a small church. The west gable is surrounded by a belfry, but the western door has been removed to the new Cathedral of Kilmore, where it is built into the vestry. It is a much earlier door, and belonged, withou a doubt, to an older church than what now exists at Trinity Abbey, being most elaborately carved with rich opus Hibernicum. This little church is surrounded by a few graves, the whole place being wild and uncared for. I have transcribed all the inscriptions to be found.

'Inside the church, on an upright stone, there is the following' :---

"Here Lyeth the Body | of Huh Maguire | who departed this life | Januray ye 14th 1793 | aged 19 years."

'The quaint carving which surmounts this stone, like some of the carved monuments of Egypt, tells the sad tale of the death of Hugh Maguire; but like other similiar carvings, it requires an interpreter - such fortunately was forthcoming in the person of an old man who was making hay on the island. Young Maguire was a great sportsman, and one day, when hunting the deer, he pressed his game too far and was drowned in the lake. The deer is depicted clearly enough and so is Maquire on horseback; the fish represents the lake.'

' Beside this stone, and also within the ruined wall of the church, is another stone bearing this isncription' :---

I. H. S.

"This Stone Erected by | Pat Leddy in memory | of Tim Rodin Departed | May the 23rd 1808 agd. 33 yrs. | Also his Mother Rose | Rodin Elieas Redy Departed | Febry. the 10th 1809 aged 75 yrs | Also his Wife Rose Leddy | Elieas Rodin Departed | Febry. the 5th 1810 Aged 46 yrs."

'Close to the south wall, outside the church, is one bearing the following' :---

'I beg ye pray for the | Soul of Francis Murphy | who Erected this Monumnt | Bridget Murphy alias | Sheridan of Derewenew | Died March 6th 1795 age | 95 yrs."

'The prayer requested for the erector of the stone instead of for the departed is quite up to date, and equals that vulgar display in our city cemeteries where, This stone was erected --by-- precedes the name of the departed to whose memory it was erected. Surely, in all monumental inscriptions the dead might be allowed a precedence!'

'A little south of the above stone is one bearing the following inscription' :---

I. H. S.

"This stone was erected | By Arthur Sheridan | in Memory of his | Father William Sheridan who Departed | this life April ye 21 | 1773 aged 50 yrs."

'Close by is another upright stone' :---

Gloria I.H.S. in excelsis Deo.

"Erected by Michal Jenkins | in memory of his wife Mary Ann | Jenkins who depd. this life the | 29 of April 1836 | Aged 38 years. | May she sleep in peace."

'A little further south is a large flat stone with an inscription very much worn away. This stone lies facing the west, like all priests' stones; the others all face the east. In the near future the inscription on this stone will be entirely lost if it is not soon re-cut. We would suggest to the present parish priest the desirability of having this seen to at once, and thus preserve the memory of his predecessor for future ages' :---

I.H.S.

"Sacred to the memory of the Revd Michl O'Reilly pastor of the parish of Kilmore for 33 years departed this life 1818 aged 80 years. Requiescat in pace, Amen."

'There is onl one other inscribed stone at Trinity Abbey, and it is the most modern. The following is cut upon it' :---

"Erected by Thomas Brady in memory of his wife Anne who departed this life January 16th 1868 aged 30 years. May she rest in peace, Amen."
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