Saturday, February 23, 2013

Black Knights and White Monks

Walk among the ruins where the Knights Hospitaller and Cistercian Monks once worshipped.  The ruins of a small Templetown Medieval Church and Jerpoint Abbey are among the sites to see when visiting the eastern shores of the Emerald Isle.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

The Vow

In the autumn of 1200, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, set sail for his first visit to Ireland as Lord of Leinster. Threatened with ship- wreck, he vowed to found an abbey wherever he should reach safety. Upon landing in Bannow Bay, he fulfilled his vow, bequeathing land for the foundation of this Cistercian abbey. Consequenty, Tintern Abbey is also referred to as Tintern de Voto - "Tintern of the Vow".

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Witch Hunt

Kells Priory is situated alongside King's River, beside the village of Kells. It was founded by Geoffrey FitzRobert, brother-in-law to Strongbow, in 1193.

In 1324 the Bishop of Ossory, Richard de Ledrede, paid a lenten visit to the priory. Following an inquisition into a Kilkenny sect of heretics, Irish noblewoman Alice Kyteler and her maidservant Petronilla de Meath were ordered to appear before the Bishop to answer charges of witchcraft. The Bishop successfully prosecuted the heretics, however Alice Kyteler was able to escape to England. Petronilla de Meath was flogged and became Ireland's first heretic to be burned at the stake in Kilkenny on 11/03/1324.