Old Mellifont Abbey

About the museum

Mellifont Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland. St Malachy of Armagh founded it in 1142 with the help of a few monks sent by St Bernard of Clairvaux. The French monks soon returned home, but the abbey was completed and consecrated with great ceremony. Its architecture was influential, and the most striking surviving feature is the two-storey octagonal lavabo.

The abbey hosted an important church synod in 1152. After the dissolution it passed into private hands but remained part of Irish history: the Treaty of Mellifont, which ended the Nine Years War, was signed here in 1603, and William of Orange used the buildings as his headquarters during the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

The site is now managed by the Office of Public Works. A visitor centre has an exhibition with a model of the abbey, and guided tours explain the ruins. The grounds can be entered free of charge.

Highlights

• Octagonal lavabo of the first Cistercian abbey in Ireland
• Visitor centre exhibition with a model of the abbey
• Guided tours of the ruins
• Coffee cart on site

Permanent exhibition

• Visitor centre exhibition – An exhibition with a model of the abbey about the history of Mellifont and the Cistercians in Ireland.

Operated by

Office of Public Works (OPW)

Admission & discounts

The prices are for the exhibition in the visitor centre and the guided tour. Entry to the grounds only is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The OPW describes the site as fully accessible for visitors with disabilities.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The abbey is about 10 km north-west of Drogheda, off the R168 (Drogheda to Collon road).

Amenities & dining

• Café

Coffee cart (Inside Out Coffee) serving tea, coffee and light snacks, open Thursday to Sunday.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit