Ballybeg Abbey

Philip de Barry founded the priory of St. Thomas à Becket at Ballybeg for the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in 1229. His grandson, David Óg de Barry, the first Baron Barry enlarged the revenues of the priory in 1251. Ballybeg was an extensive foundation, the priory church measuring some 51m in length and 7.9m in width. The cloister, situated on the south side of the church was 27m square. The complex includes one of the finest surviving medieval dovecotes in Ireland which is located c. 30m to the south-east of the main buildings. . Please note that many of these monuments may be on private land and may not be publicly accessible. When setting out to visit monuments please ensure that you wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Access to monuments without Visitor Services may be across uneven ground which may not be suitable for everyone and, in particular, wheelchair users.