Location: On the R434, off the R445 about 8km south of Borris-in-Ossory.
OS: S 32740 85798
Longitude: 7° 30' 44.2" W
Latitude: 52° 55' 19.48" N
Description and History: Although little remains of the former monastery it has a long and interesting history, and in its prime it must have been a spectacular place. A monastery was originally founded here by St. Canice no later than 577. St. Canice is also connected to the Cathedral at Kilkenny where his seat (sometimes referred to as St. Kieran’s Chair) was brought in the 13th century. The seat contains a stone said to have been brought from Aghaboe, and the Church of Ireland Bishop is still enthroned on this seat today. St. Canice died c.600 and was buried at Aghaboe where his bones became a shrine and a site of pilgrimage. Aghaboe was also the home to another saint, St. Virgilius who lived in the 8th century. He was the abbot of Aghaboe and went on to be the Bishop of Salzberg in Austria. This is a connection that is still celebrated in Aghaboe and Salzberg.
The site was attacked and destroyed on multiple occasions resulting in a series of churches being built on the site. It was burned by Vikings in 913 and in other attacks in 1116 and 1189. A church was built on the site in 1052 which contained the shrine and bones of St. Canice. I wonder if this was a small shrine-chapel, similar to St. Ciaran’s in Clonmacnoise.
Following the Norman conquest the vill of Aghaboe was granted to Adam de Hereford by Strongbow in 1172, along with lands around Clonfertmulloe and Skirk. He was likely responsible for the construction of the motte and bailey in the field to the north of the site, and he also built a motte at Skirk as well.
An Augustinian priory was founded on the site in 1234 where the present Protestant church stands today. This church retains some features of this Augustinian priory. The bell tower is largely 13th century in date, although the facing is modern. The sandstone doorway is 15th century in date, and likely comes from later building works from the priory. Stone faces and a medieval font also come from this foundation.
In 1382 a Dominican friary was built alongside the Augustinian priory and was founded by Finghin MacGillapatrick during the Gaelic resurgence, and its first prior was John O’Foelan. This friary was likely built on the site of the 1052 shrine-chapel. This structure had been largely destroyed during a MacGillapatrick attack on the nearby motte in 1346 which was led by Dermot MacGillapatrick (the one-eyed). By 1359 the nearby motte was in MacGillapatrick hands and the new priory may have been a way of making penance for the destruction of the saint’s shrine and bones.
What remains of this foundation is the main church of the friary, missing its north wall, with a later added transept built on its south side, known at Phelan’s Chapel. The outline of the cloister can still be seen to the north of the church in the adjacent field. A fine traceried window is on its east wall and it is identical to a slightly earlier window found at Holycross Abbey in Tipperary, and it was either inspired by Holycross, or the same hand is responsible for both. The site has been preserved by the efforts of local community groups.
With such a long, and somewhat well recorded history, this is a fascinating site with great possibility for future archaeologists. Surely there is still so much to learn about Aghaboe that only archaeological investigation could reveal.
Difficulty: There is no difficulty in getting to this site. It is right on the R434 and has its own car park, and clearly defined pathways.
Date of Visit: Various dates between August 2009 and October 2025.
For more ecclesiastical sites, click here.
For more sites in Co. Laois, click here.
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| The modern protestant church that sits on the site of the older Augustinian priory. It felt right to start with this as it incorporates the oldest surviving parts of the site. |
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| The doorway incorporates three medieval heads. |
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| The original plinth of the 13th century belfry. |
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| Medieval font, likely to be from the Augustinian foundation. |
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| The Dominican friary, taken in 2009. |
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| 2020. |
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| Entrance in the west wall. |
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| The double arched entrance into Phelen's Chapel. |
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| One of three piscina on site. |
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| You can clearly see the outline of the cloister here. |
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| The field to the north of the site is full of earthworks, likely associated from the two monastic foundation here. |
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| Viewed from the top of the nearby motte and bailey. |
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| Viewed from a nearby standing stone. |
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| All aerial shots taken in October 2025. |
