Killone Abbey

Killone Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Chill Eoin) is a former nunnery located on the grounds of Newhall Estate in County Clare, Ireland. The abbey was founded in 1190 by Donal Mór O'Brien, King of Thomond and Munster (pre-16th century Clare was called Thomond), who placed there a sisterhood of the order of Saint Augustin. It was a prominent house of Canonesses Regular and one of the major female monastic institutions in Gaelic Ireland.

It became closely associated with the O'Brien dynasty, one of the leading Gaelic noble families in medieval Ireland, and many of its abbesses were drawn from their ranks. Among them was Slaney O'Brien (d. 1260), the daughter of Carbreagh, King of Thomond, who renounced her royal status and worldly possessions to take up the role of abbess. In an era marked by political unrest and violence, the abbey provided the happiest, as well as safest asylum for female virtue.

She was described in the Irish annals as "the most pious, most charitable, and most generous woman in all Munster"

The last abbess, Lady Honora O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, the 1st Earl of Thomond, played a significant role in the abbey's later history. Following the suppression of monastic houses in 1540, Lady Honora married Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy and became heiress to Newhall and Killone. Their marriage, which required papal dispensation, occurred after the birth of their three eldest children.

By 1617, the abbey was recorded as being in ruins. Today, its remains are located on land used for grazing cattle within the grounds of Newhall House and Estate. The ruins include substantial portions of the abbey church and a crypt. A narrow stone stairway, situated between the altar and the east window, leads to a ledge atop the south wall of the church, offering views of the surrounding grounds.

The site is widely regarded for its serene atmosphere, spiritual significance, and natural beauty, making it a cherished landmark in the local area.