Guided Tours of Tintern Abbey (Tintern de Voto)

Guided Tours of Tintern Abbey 

Where Monks toiled and legacies were created 

Discover one of Ireland’s most atmospheric Norman-era monastic sites. Tintern Cistercian Abbey was founded around 1200 by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, on lands he acquired through his marriage to the powerful Irish heiress Isabella de Clare. According to tradition, Marshal vowed to found a monastery if he survived a violent storm while on a sea crossing. He fulfilled this promise, establishing the daughter-house of Tintern Major in Wales — hence its name, Tintern de Voto (“Tintern of the Vow”) on his landing in Bannow Bay.

The impressive ruins still feature the nave, chancel, crossing tower, chapel, and cloister, offering a haunting glimpse into medieval monastic life under Norman lordship. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, the abbey was granted to the Colclough family. They cleverly converted parts of the church into a residence, which they occupied and adapted for nearly four centuries until the mid-20th century.

Today, the site is carefully conserved within a Special Area of Conservation. Special measures protect its resident bat colonies, while surrounding ancient woodland provides peaceful walking trails. A highlight not to be missed is the beautifully restored Colclough Walled Garden, a peaceful Georgian gem within the old estate.

Perfect for history enthusiasts exploring Ireland’s Norman heritage, guided tours bring the story of William Marshal, the Cistercian monks, and the later Colclough era vividly to life.

Practical information

Tickets (Cash only): 

• Adult: €5.00

• Group/Senior: €4.00,

• Child/Student: €3.00

• Family: €13.00 

Enquiries: tinternabbey@opw.ie 

https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/tintern-cistercian-abbey/