THE BEGINNING

The story of the Cistercian order begins over 900 years ago when in 1098 St Robert, abbot of the Cluniac monastery of Molesme, founded the abbey of Citeaux, to the south of Dijon. Stephen Harding, Alberic and several other monks accompanied him. Together they built the new abbey. By 1100 Alberic succeeded as the abbot of Citeaux (Medieval religious Houses Ireland, 1988). The Benedictine rule was still practised; however, in 1119 Callistus II approved of the statutes drawn for the new order of Citeaux. By 1134 seventy Cistercian houses had been founded, fifty-five of these were in France while another fifteen were abroad (Medieval religious Houses Ireland, 1988).

St. Bernard, a most celebrated monk, is responsible for the success of the order. He joined in 1112 at the young age of twenty-one. Only three years after entering the congregation he succeeded to found a new abbey at Clairvaux. In 1153 St. Bernard died but left a legacy of three hundred and fifty new houses. Fifty two of these were in England and Wales, five in Scotland and Man and ten in Ireland. July 1124 witnessed the first arrival of Cistercian monks to England at Tulketh, near Preston in Lancashire. Three years later, in September 1127, the first settlement arrived in Erenagh (Carrig) in the dioceses of Down. This was the first abbey of an order established after 1111 to be recognised by Rome.

FOUNDING OF CISTERCIANS IN IRELAND

Upon a visit to St Bernard, Malachy, the archbishop of Armagh, was greatly impressed by the uniformity of the Cistercian order. Malachy was convinced that such uniformity and discipline would dispel corruption, that which the earlier Irish monasteries had not. Influenced by the continental style of architecture Malachy commenced in 1140 to construct a church of stone in Bangor. As early as 1142 the first Cistercian monks, consisting of both Irish and Frenchmen, arrived at Mellifont. Donough O`Carroll, the King of Uriel, was the chief benefactor of the monastery at Mellifont. So successful were the Cistercians in Ireland that within thirty years fourteen Cistercian communities had evolved. The daughter houses of Mellifont developed as follows, Bective (1147), Baltinglass (1148), Inislounaght (1148), Monasteranenagh (1148), Grellachdinach (1148), Boyle (1161), Kilbeggan (1150) and Newry (1153).

The Cistercian monks were attracted to the remoteness of Ireland. The monks were free to work the land and were independent from local chiefs. However, the patronage of four of the five provincial kings of Ireland revealed the popularity of the order. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Cistercian monks lived strict lives. After one novice year the monks took a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience. The monks farmed land directly, not for profit, only to maintain themselves. Their days were centred on a rigorous routine of prayer, labour, silence and self-discipline. The strict statutes of the Cistercian order forbade any form of decoration that would distract the monks from prayer. However, within a very short period it appeared that the Irish Cistercian order had impaired these rules. Stephen of Lexington, during the Conspiracy of Mellifont, c. 1216-1227, reported many incidents of debauchery amongst the Irish monks. Although, his experience may have been subjected to the struggle between the Irish and Anglo-Normans.

The architectural style, chiefly Gothic in form, reflected the disciplined concept on which the Cistercian order was established. Despite the regulations against decoration, architectural styles, art and furnishings were employed throughout the abbeys in Ireland and Europe. Saint Bridget`s Abbey on Clare Island is elaborately furnished with a piscina, sedilia, carved figure heads inserted into the south wall over the sedilia, ogee and cusped headed lancet windows and a traceried screen tomb canopy. The two periods of wallpaintings on the side walls and chancel vault were originally coloured and animated.

The decorations applied would appear to contradict the Cistercian rule. However, it appears that St Bridget`s Abbey was influenced by its "mother" house in AbbeyKnockmoy, Galway. The wallpaintings on Clare Island Abbey are typical of the style of those at AbbeyKnockmoy.

It was Cathal Crovedearg O`Connor (Wine Red Hand), King of Connacht, who built the abbey in 1189. He founded it following his victory over the Anglo-Normans in the Battle of Knockroe. Cistercian monks travelled from Boyle Abbey, Roscommon, to serve the new abbey.

EFFECTS OF THE REFORMATION

In 1539 Henry VIII enforced the dissolution of the monasteries in the Pale and Ireland. Many of the monasteries were destroyed within this period. St Bridget`s Abbey may have continued to be used many years after the dissolution. Gradually, it became more a burial place than a working church.

Like Clare Island Abbey, many of the Cistercian ruins were used as burial sites. The ruins now familiar sights on the landscape are ultimately an integral part of the Irish cultural landscape.

by Liz Thomas