Guided tours of The Cistercian Monastery of Jerpoint Abbey

Where Irish medieval sculpture reached new heights

Founded in the 12th century, Jerpoint Abbey stands as one of Ireland’s finest examples of a medieval Cistercian abbey. Renowned for its exceptional stone carvings, the site illustrates a period when Irish medieval sculpture reached remarkable levels of craftsmanship and detail.

Established as part of the reforms of the Irish Church, Jerpoint is a pre-Norman foundation and the history of this site perfectly reflects the struggles of assimilation and the uneasy, sometimes violent relationship that existed between the Norman and Gaelic Irish monks culminating spectacularly in the Riot of Jerpoint and the Mellifont Conspiracy. 

The architectural styles within the church, constructed in the late twelfth century, reflect the transition from Romanesque to Gothic architecture. The tower and cloister date to the fifteenth century.

Jerpoint is renowned for its detailed stone sculptures found throughout the monastery. Dating from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries these include mensa tombs from the O’Tunney school, an exquisite, incised depiction of two 13th century knights, the decorated cloister arcades along with other effigies and memorials.

The site offers an engaging experience for visitors of all ages. A treasure hunt available at the nearby visitor centre invites younger audiences to explore the abbey while discovering carved figures of saints, patrons, knights, exotic animals, and mythological creatures throughout the site.

Practical information
The site can be explored independently.
Guided tours duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Ticket prices:
• Adult: €5.00
• Group/Senior: €4.00
• Child/Student: €3.00
• Family: €13.00
Enquiries