Mount Saint Joseph's Abbey

Popularity

About this place

Mount St. Joseph Abbey is an abbey of the Trappist branch of the Cistercians located in County Offaly, near Roscrea, County Tipperary in Ireland. The abbey was founded in 1878 by a group of 32 monks from Mount Melleray Abbey, County Waterford, a number of years earlier Arthur John Moore MP of County Tipperary visited Mt Melleray petitioning for it. The church was opened for worship in 1883, on 600 acres in Mount Heaton, Roscrea, and a Boarding school - Cistercian College, Roscrea - was founded in 1905. The first superior was Dom Athanasius O'Donovan (born Daniel O'Donovan). Mount St. Joseph contains several stained glass windows created by Harry Clarke or his studios. Three windows in the infirmary, three later windows in the chapel of the college and a 1960s window dedicated to St. Patrick for the abbey church. Three foundations have been made from Mount Saint Joseph - Nunraw (Scotland) in 1946, Tarrawarra (Australia) in 1954, and Bolton Abbey, Moone, (County Kildare) in 1964. Nationalist, MP, Catholic and Home Rule supporter Count Arthur John Moore, who donated the 600-acre property and buildings to the Cistercians, where the abbey and college are, is buried in Mount St Joseph.

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Updated 2026-11-14 Suggest an edit / Report issue

Getting There & Parking

Mount Saint Joseph's Abbey is located in County Offaly, roughly 79 km (1h 10m drive) from Limerick and 147 km (2h 10m) from Dublin. The nearest public car park is 622 m away (Free). Nearby highlights within a short drive include Roscrea Abbey (4.0 km away).

Limerick79 km

~1h 10m drive

Galway111 km

~1h 40m drive

Dublin147 km

~2h 10m drive

Nearest car park Free

622 m from landmark

Directions to car park ↗