Greyabbey Cistercian Abbey.
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Slide
show of Greyabbey images. |
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After the Bruce wars (1315-18), Greyabbey was controlled by the O'Neills of Clandeboye who controlled it until it was dissolved in 1537, it is recorded that it consisted of sixteen town lands and the rectories of two parishes, part of which was granted to the earl of Kildare. The abbey along with others in the area were burnt by Brian O'Neill in 1569 to prevent them giving shelter to English planters who were attempting to colonise the area. In 1572 Elizabeth I granted the abbey and monastic lands to Sir Thomas Smith, although he and his son also Thomas were largely unsuccessful in taking possession. In the early seventeenth century as part of a new plantation effort, the abbey lands were granted to Sir Hugh Montgomery, he refurbished the nave for parish worship, it was used as such until about 1778. In Greyabbey village pronounced locally by some of the older inhabitants as "Grebba" there are a few good quality hostelry's. In 1798 the Rev. James Porter minister of the local Presbyterian church in the town, was hanged on a temporary gallows within sight of his church for his part in the United Irishmen's Rebellion, his remains are interred in the graveyard adjacent to the monastery.
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Read
about Greyabbey from
Mary Lowry's Story of Belfast. |
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