How To Get To Moyne Abbey In Mayo (A Guide With LOTS Of Warnings!)

The historic Moyne Abbey is one of the more unique places to visit in Mayo.

Moyne Abbey is a 560-year-old friary complex with a church, tower, well-preserved cloisters and many supporting buildings still surviving relatively intact.

Occupying a stunning coastal location, it’s an wonderful place to have a nosey around, with several unique features worth looking out for.

In the guide below, you’ll discover everything from where to get parking near Moyne Abbey to its history and what to do nearby.

Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Moyne Abbey in Mayo

So, a visit to Moyne Abbey near Ballina isn’t overly straightforward, and that’s thanks to the fact that there’s no parking here… which isn’t ideal. Here are some need-to-knows.

1. Location    

Moyne Abbey is located on the coast of County Mayo, about 3km east of Killala and 12km north of Ballina. The site overlooks the mouth of the River Moy and is accessed via a right-of-way across private land (it is not directly accessible from the road). The idyllic location overlooks the Bay of Killala, the Moy River and the Ox Mountains beyond. 

2. A whole lot of history   

Moyne Abbey is a National Monument and, even in ruins, it is a most imposing building. Founded as a Franciscan Abbey in 1462, it was burnt in 1590 as part of the Protestant Reformation in Ireland. More on this below.

3. Parking (warning)  

Moyne Abbey is not a developed tourist site. There is no dedicated parking so visitors have to park carefully on the roadside. Care should be taken not to block the road or any gateways. Never park on or near a bend in the road.

4. The entry point

The right of way is marked by a sign that actually says “private property – beware of the bull”. So, yes, you’ll have to visit at your own risk! Here’s where to find the entry point on Google Maps.

5. Another warning

There’s no real path to Moyne Abbey, and you’re walking through fields for the entire journey to it. This can result in ruined shoes, so bring old ones if you have some to spare.

A speedy history of Moyne Abbey   

 

Moyne Abbey was founded in 1460 by McWilliam Bourke, part of the powerful de Burgo / Burke family. It was said that he was led by a dove to the low-lying site which was the site of the great Battle of Moyne in 1281.

He took this as an omen and donated the land to the Franciscans for the construction of a friary. 

Moyne Abbey buildings

Built in Irish Gothic style, the friary included a square six storey tower with battlements and a traditional cruciform church, chapel and cloisters. It had a vaulted chapter room, sacristy, dormitories, infirmary, kitchen, refectory and a mill built over a stream. The order flourished with over 50 novices and friars following the strict way of life for the next 130 years. 

Disaster and survival

As part of the Protestant Reformation (1590-1641) Sir Richard Bingham, English Governor of Connacht, burnt the friary in 1590. He held a personal hatred of the Burke family and was determined to destroy their wealth. The Cromwellian soldiers murdered the friars and violated the altars. However, the friary survived and continued to operate until the 18th century when the buildings where no longer habitable. 

Why Moyne Abbey is worth a visit

Despite being over 550 years old and roofless, these ecclesiastical ruins are well preserved and very impressive.

The mediaeval complex remains largely intact so visitors can walk through each building imagining the peaceful life led by the Franciscan friars. 

Today, the walls and buildings of Moyne Abbey remain an atmospheric place to visit. The complex includes a church, a six storey tower, chapel with cloisters, remains of a vaulted chapter room, sacristy, dormitories, infirmary, kitchen, refectory and a mill.

Very old ship etchings  

On the west gable of the abbey, on either side of the doorway and on a side wall, a collection of ships have been gouged into the walls.

These simple drawings probably date back to the 16th century and may have been a nod of appreciation to the Galway merchants who were benefactors of the friary. These “Moyne Ships” were discovered when the plaster fell off as a result of weathering.

A host of other interesting features   

Beyond the cloisters and the etchings, other interesting features worth seeking out include the remarkably ornate window tracery that would have been part of the main church. Note the west doorway of the church which is in Renaissance style. It was probably added in the 17th century. 

Underneath the east windows in the transept of the church there are recesses of two side chapels. Between them is an interesting feature – a very small space recessed into the thickness of the wall.

It was probably the sacristy where sacrament vessels and altar vestments would have been stored. In the grounds, the millrace still can be seen. It would have fed water from the stream to drive the mill-wheel as part of the now-ruined mill.

The “Ghostlore”  

Irish legend has it that Moyne Abbey had rooms filled with skulls and bones, and this led to tales of strange noises and ghostly goings-on after dark.

One story tells of a young chapel clerk, Peter Cumming, who in a drunken boast bet his friends a golden guinea that he could fetch a skull from Moyne Abbey and put it on the table.

Drink no doubt emboldened him to make the trip to the abbey, but just as he reached out for one of the skulls he heard a voice. He looked up to see the ghost of his grandfather chastising him for removing the skull.

Peter promised to return the skull after collecting his guinea and the apparition disappeared. Peter did present the skull to his friends, collected his guinea and, good as his word, returned and buried the skull properly. 

Things to do near Moyne Abbey

One of the beauties of Moyne Abbey is that it’s a short spin away some of the best things to do in Mayo.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Moyne Abbey. If you’re feeling peckish, you’re a short, 15-minute drive from many of the best restaurants in Ballina.

1. Rosserk Friary (9-minute drive)  

 

Just 5km northwest of Moyne is Rosserk Friary, one of the finest preserved Franciscan Friary in Ireland. Built in 1440, it was also burnt by Sir Richard Bingham as part of the Reformation. The Irish Gothic church is well-preserved with a single-aisle nave, two chantry chapels and a bell tower. On the upper floor are the remains of the dormitory, refectory and kitchen with two fireplaces still evident.

2. Belleek Woods (20-minute drive)    

Just north of Ballina, Belleek Woods are now managed by Coilte Teoranta, an Irish state-owned forestry company. The 1000-acre woods are one of the largest urban forests in Europe and provide a peaceful retreat and walking trails beside the River Moy for hiking, bird-spotting and wildlife. There’s also plenty of things to do in Ballina, while you’re closeby.

3. Belleek Castle (15-minute drive)   

Within Belleek Woods, the magnificently restored Belleek Castle is now one of the most unique hotels in Mayo. Built by the Knox-Gore family in 1825, this neo-Gothic castle remained in the family for several generations before being sold in 1942. It was used as a hospital and military barracks before being magnificently restored by Marshall Doran. It is now packed with treasures and is well worth a guided tour.

4. Downpatrick Head (30-minute drive)

Just north of Ballycastle, Downpatrick Head is one of the Discovery Points on the Wild Atlantic Way. It’s most famous for the sea stack, Dun Briste, just 200 metres offshore. The headland is where St Patrick founded a church, now in ruins. See a statue of the patron saint, a WW2 lookout post and a spectacular blowhole! 

5. Ceide Fields (27-minute drive)

The Ceide Fields are a a remarkable neolithic site on cliffs 113 metres above the Atlantic Ocean. The stone-enclosed fields are thought to be the oldest-known field system in the world and along with foundations of a settlement were discovered by accident in the 1930s. It is now a top visitor attraction with tours and a Visitor Centre.

FAQs about visiting Moyne Abbey in Mayo

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from where to park at Moyne Abbey to what to see nearby.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Where do you park at Moyne Abbey?

Moyne Abbey is not a developed tourist site. There is no dedicated parking so visitors have to park on the roadside. Care should be taken not to block the road or any gateways.

How do you get into Moyne Abbey?

The right of way is marked by a sign that actually says “private property – beware of the bull”. Visit at your own risk! See guide above for Google Map link.

Is Moyne Abbey worth visiting?

Yes, the abbey boasts a wealth of history and its unique location makes it worth exploring (with care).