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The Abbey
 Dunbrody
Abbey was founded in 1170 on the instructions of Strongbow, by Herve de
Montmorency (his uncle), after the Norman invasion of Ireland. It was
completed circa 1220, but additions may have continued for some time.
Herve de Montmorency made a grant of the lands to the monks of Bildewas
in Shropshire (England), on condition that they should build the Abbey,
for some monks of the Cistercian, or White Order (they wore white robes),
and upon condition that there should be a Sanctuary in the Abbey for all
malefactors. Dedicated to "St. Mary the ever Blessed Virgin, and
St. Benedict" it has sometimes been called the Abbey of St. Mary
de Port, for the refuge it contained by the express condition of its founder.
Herve de Montmorency became the first Abbot of Dunbrody
and died there in 1205, at the age of 75, and was buried in the Abbey.
The Abbey flourished for several centuries, but not without certain problems.
In 1355, the Abbot and his monks appear to have taken to the Highway line
of business, for it is said that William de Ross, Abbot of Dunbrody, and
Adam and Hugh Barry, monks, were indicted for imprisoning one Thomas Herlyn,
a monk of Tintern, and stealing two of his horses to the value of forty
shillings. Also they expelled Thomas de Wiggemore, Abbot of Tintern, and
robbed him of three horses to the value of eight marks. They were acquitted,
perhaps fortunately.
 The
Abbey's demise started when Alexander Devereux, the last Abbot of Dunbrody,
granted to the King, his heirs and successors, the Abbey and all its possessions
circa 1542. Alexander Devereux changed religion, and became the Bishop
of Ferns. The lands and Abbey then came into the possession of the Etchingham
family. In 1642, Jane Etchingham, the heiress, married the second Earl
of Donegall, whose descendants (Chichester family) own the lands to this
day. It was handed over by the Chichester family to the Office of Public
Works in 1911, and is maintained to the standards you see today by them.
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