This place is a wonderful lonely gem. Locals claim that the massive religious complex of Kelly Priory (more than 3 acres) s the largest monastic site in Europe. It’s an isolated, deserted ruin that begs a curious wander (and alert side-stepping of sheep droppings).
Founded in 1193 by Norman soldiers of fortune with Augustinian monks in tow, this priory grew into the intimidating structure that locals call “the seven castles” today. These “castles,” however, were actually Norman tower houses connected by a wall that enclosed the religious functions within.
Inside the walls, the site is divided into two main areas: One is a huge interior common grazing area (larger than a football field) dominated by the encircling tower houses; the other is a tangled medieval maze of rock walls (remnants of the a cloister, a church, cellars, a medieval dormitory, and a graveyard).
The most dramatic 75-year period of the site’s history took place between 1252 and 1327, when it was attacked and burned three times (once by Edward the Bruce’s army of Scots). The contrast between those violent times and today’s pastoral decay is striking.
