Thursday 21 May 2020

Lusk Abbey (Walsh)



From Walsh's History of the Irish HierarchyWith the Monasteries of Each County, Biographical Notices of the Irish Saints, Prelates, and Religious, 1854, c. xliv p. 434-5

Lusk in the barony of Balruddery twelve miles north of Dublin 

AD 497 St. Culineus or Macculine was abbot and bishop of Lusk.  His feast is there observed on the 6th of September 

AD 498 died the bishop Cuynea MacCathmoa 

AD 616 died the bishop Petranus 

AD 695 died Cassan the learned scribe of Lusk. In this year a synod was held at Lusk/ St/ Adamnanus was present it was also attended by the principal prelates of the kingdom. There are extant certain decrees usually called the canons of Adamnan and which are chiefly relative to some meats improper for food together with a prohibition of eating such of them as contain blood. Colga, the son of Moenach, abbot of Lusk, attended the synod 

AD 734 died the abbot Conmaole MacColgan 

AD 781 died the abbot Conel or Colgan 

AD 825 the Danes destroyed and ravaged this abbey 

AD 835 died Ferbassach bishop of Lusk 

AD 854 the abbey and town were destroyed by fire 

AD 874 died the bishop Benacta 

AD 882 died the bishop Mutran 

AD 901 died Buadan, bishop of Lusk 

AD 906 died the bishop Colman 

AD 924 Tuathal MacOenagan, bishop of Duleeke and Lusk died 

AD 965 died the blessed Ailild, son of Moenach, bishop of Swords and Lusk

Many of the ancient monasteries having been totally demolished and wrecked by the Danes, the succession of bishops has been lost and those minor sees became merged in the greater bishoprics. Many of those ancient monasteries have not been rebuilt as persons desirous to embrace the monastic state could enter the establishments of canons regular as well as those of the Benedictine and Cistercian orders which were introduced by St. Malachy. 

The church of Lusk consists of two long aisles divided by seven arches adjoining the west end stands a handsome square steeple three angles of which are supported by round towers and, near to the fourth angle, is one of those ancient round towers so peculiar to Ireland. It is in good preservation and rises several feet above the battlements of the steeple. 

Nunnery. This house which was originally founded for nuns of the order of Aroasia was afterwards appropriated to the priory of All Saints, Dublin, and in the year 1190 it was translated to Grace Dieu by John, archbishop of Dublin. The walls said to have been those of this ancient nunnery are still to be seen at Lusk