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Boyle Abbey is located about 10km from ArrowRock Hostel in the nearby town of Boyle and is amongst a number of attractions well worth visiting in the Boyle area.
Boyle Abbey is an impressive and well preserved Cistercian Abbey. The Cistercians arrived in Ireland in 1130, reaching Boyle around the 1150. Building started on the Abbey in 1161 and continued until 1220 when the Abbey Church was consecrated. It has a typical Cistercian layout and is similar in plan to many other Cistercian Abbeys throughout Europe however Boyle Abbey has some interesting and unique features mainly due to it's mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles.
Boyle Abbey remained in use as an abbey until the middle of the 1500's and the last Abbot of Boyle was executed in 1584. It was then used as a castle and military garrison until the late 1700's when the military garrison moved to what is now King House. Although seriously damaged during period Boyle Abbey nevertheless remains a magnificent restored ruin and one of the finest remaining examples of Medieval Cistercian churches to survive in Ireland.
The restored 16th/17th century gatehouse houses an exhibition. Conducted tours of the Abbey and grounds are available but there is some ongoing restoration work underway so it is best to check first.
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