Urlaur Abbey is situated in an uniquely picturesque setting on the shores of Urlaur Lake in East County Mayo. The abbey was established by the Dominican order in 1430 by Father William Nangle and Father Thomas O’Grogan. It was financed by Edmond Costello and his wife Fineola Cusa, this Anglo-Norman family also financed St Mary’s Augustinian Abbey in Ballyhaunis around the same time. There were two inquisitions into Urlaur in 1608 and 1610 as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the 1608 inquisition found that the abbey was in possession of 12 acres of workable land, however two years later in 1610 this had increased to 24 acres. In the aftermath of these inquisitions the lands were confiscated and initially granted to Sir Edward Fisher before later being transferred to Sir Theobald Dillon, a local landlord, however the friars were allowed to continue living at Urlaur. Several friars related to the abbey were killed during the Cromwellian Conquests in Ireland with Fr Dominic Dillion and Fr Richard Overton put to death at Drogheda, Fr Mac Costello was also killed by the Cromwellians and Friar Gerard Dillon died in prison. The penal laws caused the majority of friars to leave the Abbey in 1698 and only five remained in the area. Some Friars did return to the abbey and a community continued to reside there until the last Friar of Urlaur Patrick Sharkey died in 1846, at this stage the abbey was already in ruins and Patrick lived in an adjacent small cottage. An annual pattern is held at the abbey on the 4th of August each year, St Dominic’s Day, when mass is celebrated within its old walls. A famous legend surrounding the abbey was collected and translated by Douglas Hyde and published in 1915. It was called the Friars of Urlaur and relates to a black demon boar that came from the lake and made the friars lives a misery. Its too long to include in this article however there is a link below to Douglas’ book ‘Legends of Saints and Sinners’ on the Project Gutenberg website HERE.
GPS: 53.85149, -8.74697