The Cistercian Order.

The Cistercian order of monks was founded at Citeaux, France in 1098, it was a breakaway branch of the Benedictine Order its formation an attempt to return to the former Benedictine austerity. The Cistercians were seen by the church as an important weapon in their arsenal against corruption and complacency which had developed in the monasteries.

In 1142 St. Malachy brought the order to Ireland primarily to assist in the reformation of the existing houses, who it was deemed had developed too far from the dogma of Rome. By the end of the twelfth century they had twenty seven monasteries in Ireland.

Although introduced to reform the perceived chaos of Irish monastic life, the Cistercians soon began to fall into the Irish way of doing things, they were then placed under the control of Cistercian houses in England, Wales, and France.

In the late 1100's the Anglo Norman invasion proved a radically more effective tool at imposing the desired changes, some existing Monasteries were eradicated completely, such as Erenna outside Downpatrick (Founded 1127 of the Savignac order). While Inch Abbey in the same area was reestablished in 1180 as a Cistercian House with monks from Furness Lancs.