Mellifont Abbey was the first Cistercian Abbey to be founded in Ireland. It was introduced into Ireland by St Malachy the archbishop of Armagh in 1142. The abbey was consecrated in 1157 and from this humble beginning the Cistercian community spread out throughout Ireland founding other monasteries throughout the country.
By 1271 it had become the mother house of 24 other monasteries. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539 it was converted into a fortified manor house. Only a few remains of the original building have been preserved a castle-like gatehouse with a massive tower, the fine crypt of the church, part of the two-story lavabo in the cloister and the finely vaulted chapter-house circ 14th, in which a variety of architectural fragments are now kept. Part of the floor of the chapter-house has been laid with attractively patterned glazed tiles from the church. Stumps of walls and marks on the ground indicate that the abbey was laid out on the Clairvaux model.
The most significant remains of Mellifont Abbey is the chapter house, the Lavabo where the monks would have washed their hands before meals and as you approach Mellifont Abbey you will see the remains of the gateway. The other parts of the Abbey are gone but small walls remain making it possible to make out how the Abbey would have looked.
The Visitor Centre houses an interesting exhibition on the work of masons in the middle Ages with fine examples of their craft on display.
Mellifont Abbey is located between the village of Collon and the town of Drogheda in County Louth. It lies in the tranquil valley of the Mattock River.
Mellifont Abbey is also the site where the Irish rebel leader Hugh O'Neill surrendered in 1603 to the English. This surrender was a turning point in Irish history as it enabled the English to consolidate their reign.
The Cache
The cache is well hidden and hard to spot there is no need to remove any stones to discover its location
Please beware that you can be seen by Muggles from the visitor’s center
please retrieve and replace the cache with extreme care to prevent Muggles from Discovering the cache as this is a very popular area.
The Windsockers
www.geocachingireland.ie