Hore Abbey

In flat terrain with a stream running roughly E-W c. 50 N of the abbey building. The cathedral (TS061-025003-) on the nearly Rock of Cashel dominates the view to the NNE. This Cistercian Abbey, founded in 1272 from Mellifont, was the last Irish foundation of this order before the Reformation. The foundation was instigated by David McCarville, the archbishop of Cashel who reputedly wanted to replace the Benedictines of Cashel with the Cistercians (Ó Conbhuidhe 1999, 305). It was named the abbey of the Rock (de Rupe) (ibid.). The monastery was dissolved in 1540, however, the chancel remained in use as a parish church for a parish coterminous with the former lands of the abbey and was serviced by three of the former monks (Stalley 1987, 246). The lands were initially occupied by Edmund Heffernan (Ó Conbhuidhe 1999, 317). In 1561 the abbey and lands were granted to Sir Henry Radcliffe and were subsequently leased to James Butler, Earl of Ormond and Thomas Sinclair (ibid.; Grose 1791, vol. 2, 86). In 1640 the proprietor was Edward Boyton, an ‘Irish Papist’ and alderman of Cashel (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 227).

A 13th-century Cistercian Abbey with 15th-century modifications including the addition of a crossing-tower, the supporting piers of which were built onto the 13th-century piers of the original transept. Following the Dissolution various parts of the monastery, including the nave, S transept and chapter house, were converted into private houses (Stalley 1987, 246). Much of this roofless abbey survives, including the abbey church with its N and S aisles and transepts, the sacristy, E range and chapter house, as well as wall-footings of the N and W range and cloister. The chancel was lit by three graduated lancets in the E wall and two opposing lancets in the N and S wall at the E end. In the 15th century the upper portion of all these windows were blocked up and smaller ogee-headed windows were inserted. There is an internal string course with fillet moulding, broken in places by the later windows insertions. A large E stone altar (H 0.91m; L 3.7m; D 1.14m) of rough rubble masonry rests on a chamfered plinth. In the S wall, from E to W there is a rebated pointed trefoil aumbry with credence, a double piscina within a double pointed trefoil niche with free-standing central support and credence, and a sedilia, mostly broken out. In the W wall are the remains of two triangular-headed tomb recesses, both having broken-out pointed canopies. A doorway has been inserted in the westernmost recess. Immediately to the E of the tomb recesses there are the remains of a two triangular plaster impressions. The crossing tower has very fine lierne rib-vaulting. There is a central bell-rope hole and one on either side to the N and S. There are mason’s marks on the carved stonework and a carved hanging shield with the Butler coat of arms on the NW pier. Both of the western crossing piers have square holes at springer level, opposite each other, which would have given support to a rood screen. The nave bears no evidence of a W doorway. The base-batter runs along the length of the gable, including the side aisles. The aisled nave has five pointed arches on either side. The piers are all rectangular in plan with chamfered cut-stone quoins. There are four quatrefoil clerestorey windows on the S wall, one between each arch, and a smaller one above the arch at the E end. Though much of the N wall does not survive, it appears to have had a similar arrangement. In the W end of the S aisle there are the remains of a lancet window, rebated and chamfered externally, only the lower jambs and sill survive. At the E end of the N aisle the lower jambs of a moulded sandstone doorway leading to the cloister survive. A doorway at the W end has a simple chamfered surround with a carved head on the chamfer. In the W gable of the nave there is a central lancet with three later two-light windows inserted, one above the other. Two other windows also inserted in this gable, together with inserted corbels, indicate that a later residential building, four-storeys high, occupied the W end of the nave. There are also the remains of an inserted fireplace at ground level. During the occupation of the abbey for residential use a cross-wall was inserted in the nave and some of the aisle arches were blocked up. Traces of doors, windows and off-sets to carry floors are evident in this later building phase. The transepts contained two formerly barrel-vaulted chapels, though only the N transept’s chapels survive together with its altars, piscinas and remains of E windows. The wall separating the chapels has a wall plaque, apparently inserted, bearing a shield with a chief indented with three vertical spearheads beneath the indents. In the N wall of the N transept there are the remains of a squinch which supported a mural stair giving access to the first-floor level above the side chapels. The S transept was lit by two tall lancets in the S gable with a quatrefoil at the apex and a lancet at the S end of the W wall. These lancets have been blocked and later windows inserted. A building at the NE angle of the E range, clearly added onto the existing range, has been interpreted by Power (1938, 6) as a possible rere-dorter or latrine, it has a square opening towards the base of the W wall but no channel or corresponding opening opposite. The position of the cloister and ranges are unusual in that it is the only Cistercian abbey in the county to have them to the N of the church. Only a very small portion of the two-phase cloister arcade survives.