Black Abbey

Black Abbey tickets: which one to buy

The Black Abbey stands on Abbey Street in the centre of Kilkenny, Ireland, a short walk from Saint Canice's Cathedral and the High Street, and entry is free, with donations welcome. It is a working Dominican priory and one of the most beautiful medieval churches still in use in Ireland. Walking tours of Kilkenny's Medieval Mile combine the abbey with Kilkenny Castle, Saint Canice's Cathedral and its round tower, the Medieval Mile Museum, Rothe House and the Smithwick's Experience in the old brewery.

Kilkenny is about an hour and a half from Dublin by train or car, and it is a popular day trip. The abbey is active, with masses held daily, and visiting pauses during services. Guided tours are offered by the friars in summer. Trains from Dublin Heuston to Kilkenny take about an hour and a half.

Visiting Black Abbey: what to see

The priory was founded in 1225 by William Marshal the Younger, Earl of Pembroke, for the Dominican friars, and its name comes from the black cloaks worn by the friars over their white habits. The priory was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1543, and its buildings were used as a courthouse and fell into ruin; the Dominicans returned in the nineteenth century and restored the church, which reopened in 1864. Its most famous feature is the Rosary Window, a huge stained glass window made in 1892, depicting the fifteen mysteries of the rosary, one of the largest in Ireland. The abbey also holds an alabaster statue of the Holy Trinity from around 1400, one of the oldest representations of the Trinity in Ireland, and medieval stone coffins and carvings.

The church's tower and walls date from the medieval period, while the interior has been restored with modern furnishings. The abbey's nave has medieval arches, and the south transept holds the Rosary Window. The medieval stone coffins in the churchyard were found during restoration. The alabaster Trinity shows God the Father holding the crucified Christ, with the dove of the Holy Spirit. The church's modern stained glass includes windows by Irish artists. The abbey's tower was built in the fifteenth century. The friars welcome visitors and explain the history of the Dominicans in Kilkenny. The abbey's garden has a small graveyard. A section of the medieval city wall survives nearby. The Black Freren Gate, one of the old city gates, stands close to the abbey. The organ is played at Sunday mass.

Black Abbey opening hours and the best time to go

The abbey is open daily, with visits paused during masses. Kilkenny is lively during the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August and the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in June, and it is busy at weekends with visitors from Dublin. The Rosary Window is best seen on sunny mornings, when the light shines through the glass. Irish weather is mild and often wet, so the abbey is a good indoor stop. Allow about twenty minutes for the abbey, and walk along the Medieval Mile to Kilkenny Castle. Kilkenny Castle, a short walk away, has restored rooms, a picture gallery and extensive parkland.