Saint Mullins Monastic Ruins

Saint Mullins.
[ photo: County Museum. ]

St. Mullins is one of the county’s important archaeological sites containing aspects of both religious and secular history. It is very much a place of tradition with both the graveyard and holy well still in use. It is located in the scenic surroundings of the very south of the County with the River Barrow forming the county boundary with the Blackstairs Mountains overlooking it on the east and Mount Brandon on the west.

The River Barrow at Saint Mullins.
[ photo: County Museum. ]

The place name in Irish, Tighe Moling, the House of Moling; Saint Mullins is the location of a monastic site built by St. Moling. He was born in 614 AD, a prince and during his lifetime he became a poet, artist and craftsman as well as a priest. Under the patronage of Mae doc ( Aidan ) of Ferns he built his monastery in St. Mullins in the 7th century. He dug a mile long watercourse with his own hands to power his mill, a task which took seven years. He was made Archbishop of Ferns in 691.

During his lifetime many miracles were attributed to him. He died in the year 696 and is buried in St. Mullins.

Monastic Ruins

Base of Round Tower at Saint Mullins.
[ photo: County Museum. ]

High Cross at Saint Mullins.
[ photo: County Museum. ]

Bell Tower at Saint Mullins.
[ photo: County Museum. ]

The Monastic ruins, which all post date the lifetime of St. Moling show that his monastic settlement continued for many centuries. Following the construction of a Church of Ireland Church in 1811, the site continued to be a place of regular worship right up to recent times. Today, there can be found the remains of three churches on the site, including the Tempall Mor ( the great Church ) and it is reputed to contain the grave of St. Moling. The remains of numerous domestic buildings in addition to the base of a round tower complete the main structures. The site also contains the cross section of a ninth century granite High Cross which depicts the Crucifixion.

According to the Ordnance Field Books for 1839 there were two patron days, 17th June, which was St. Moling’s Day held to commemorate his death and on July 25th the second was held in honour of St. James. Today the patron day is held on the Sunday before July 25th. On that day people visit St. Moling’s Well, which is a short distance from the main site. Here people look for and seek cures to a variety of diseases including blindness. The Ordnance Field Books for 1839 describes the well as it still appears today.

" It is situated on rising ground and is faced by an enclosure of masonry about 10 feet long by 5 feet wide, without a roof, which is said to be for bathing children in who are suffering from certain diseases ".

Saint Moling’s Holy Well.
[ photo: County Museum. ]

Located beside the main site is the motte and the rough outline of the bailey. A motte is man made structure that was raised in the late twelfth century when Richard de Clare, the Earl of Pembroke, granted permission. A wooden fortification was erected on top. Adjoining the west of this motte was the bailey in which the soldiers and out buildings were located. The remains of such buildings can still be traced on the ground.

The Motte at Saint Mullins.
[ photo: County Museum. ]

Since 1986 the former Church of Ireland Church, originally built in1811, now houses the St. Mullins Muintir na Tire Heritage Centre.