Guided tours of the medieval church at St. Mary's Church, Gowran

Guided tours of the medieval church at St. Mary's Church

Records written in stone in the heart of Gowran

The church was patronised by the Butler family and many early family members are commemorated here with elaborate medieval tombs. The impressive ruins were decorated by the Gowran Master whose stone carvings are immortalised in the poetry of Nobel Laureate Séamus Heaney.

The once medieval church was later partly reconstructed in the early 19th century and functioned as a Church of Ireland church until the 1970’s when it was gifted to the State as a National Monument. Today the restored part of the church preserves a collection of monuments dating from the 5th to the 20th centuries.

Practical information 

General public 

Duration: 1 hour 

Free admission 

Enquiries: jerpointabbey@opw.ie 

https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/st-marys-church-gowran/