Open Tours of Holycross Abbey take place on Sundays from March to September at 2.30pm. You can come along to the cloister area and join this tour at 2.30pm without pre-booking.
Alternatively, we can arrange tours at other dates and times throughout the year, but only when pre-booked. Bookings can be made by contacting 086-1665869, 0504-43124 or by emailing holycrossabbeytours@gmail.com. Please book at least 48 hours in advance to ensure availability.
Holycross Abbey is open for private visit and prayer from 9am to 6pm daily.
For information or to book a group tour at any time throughout the year please phone 086-1665869 or 0504-43124 (office hours). Email: holycrossabbeytours@
Website: www.holycrossabbey.ie
Because the Abbey is our parish church tour times will be rescheduled to adapt to any religious events taking place in the Abbey. We accept donations of €5 per person (2024 rate).
Highlights of a Visit to Holycross Abbey
The restored Holycross Abbey is unique. It has a great mix of features that blend well together.
- It has the widest range of window patterns and tracery of any medieval building. No two windows are the same.
- The Sedilia and Waking Bier draw superlatives from the experts. Roger Stalley in his book on the Cistercians describes them as “.. the finest piece of church furnishing in medieval Ireland”. They are the highpoint in Cistercian art in stone.
- The Relic of the Cross was probably displayed in the waking bier. It drew pilgrims from far and wide since the foundation in 1182 AD.
The sanctuary and the north transept have the finest ribbing of the period.
- A 750 years old bell, called Michael, is reputedly the oldest church bell in Ireland and hangs in the belfry.
- It has the only surviving medieval chapter house doorway in Ireland.
- There is also a whispering arch.
- The arcading of the cloister is beautifully executed.
- There is plenty more here in stone, folklore, legend and history.
Failte go Mainister na Croise Naofa
