Invaded Ireland: Jerpoint Abbey

Located in County Kilkenny, Jerpoint Abbey is a 12th century cistercian abbey. It was founded in 1158 by Donal MacGillapatrick, King of Ossary. The abbey transitioned from a Cistercian settlement to a more hermitic settlement because the cistertian faith had become too "worldly". The goal of the monks of Jerpoint was to completely isolate themselves from society so that they could better serve God. If anyone settled near the abbey, the were made to go elsewhere so that they might not disturb the monks' isolation.
The abbey was built on land granted to the settlers in exchange for prayer and burial space. The abbey began with 13 monks, to symbolize Jesus and the twelve disciples, but at it's peak the abbey housed 86 monks and laymen. Life at the abbey was centered around prayer, with the first call to prayer at two in the morning. They ate simple meals of bread, veggies, and beer as they were meant only to sustain life, not over feed.
The abbey at one time had forty thousand acres of very valuable land. In 1540 Henry the VIII commission the disbanding of the monasteries and Jerpoint was seized because of it's valuable land holdings.
The abbey today is still a beautiful reflection of monastic life. The old tombs still house the carvings of saints and other important religious figure and imagery. The colonnades surround the inner part of the abbey and are rich with remaining carvings and artistry. The nave and chancel give us a glimpse into what services might be like. There was formerly a screen in the church that separated the laymen from the monks so as to not disturb the hermitic life of the monks.
Jerpoint abbey was one of the first cistercian monasteries and it's presence emphasizes the significance of religious life in Ireland. It's involvement in the reformation contributed to Irish resentment toward the English.
Our group was enamored by the beauty and preservation of this site. Max was particularly fascinated with the center tomb because of it's intricate carvings, while Kayleigh enjoyed learning about each of the carvings and their significance. Elyse thought it was interesting that the laymen were kept separated from the monks and were never able to become monks themselves. Overall, this site is a wonderful example of monastic life and we enjoyed our exploration of it.