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All the United Kingdom Northern Ireland Downpatrick Inch Abbey

Inch Abbey

A medieval abbey featured on 'Game of Thrones' that dates back to the 12th century.

Downpatrick, Northern Ireland

Added By
taylsliotta
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Inch Abbey   Aubrey Dale
Inch Abbey   Aubrey Dale
Ruins of the 12th century Cistercian monastery, Inch Abbey   robdowling / Atlas Obscura User
Inch Abbey Signage   jddarcy / Atlas Obscura User
Inch Abbey   Ardfern
Inch Abbey was the location where Robb Stark became ‘King in the North’.   robdowling / Atlas Obscura User
Inch Abbey landscape   robdowling / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Inch Abbey was originally the location of a church called Inis Cumhscraigh situated on an island in the Quoile Rive marshes north of the Downpatrick. Only fragments of this church survive. It was plundered by the Vikings in 1002 in a raid led by Sitric, king of the Danes.

The Norman Knight John de Courcy and his wife Affreca replaced the early church in 1177 with a Cistercian monastery and populated it with monks from Furness Abbey in northern England. He commissioned one of these monks, a man called Jocelyn of Barrow-in-Furness, to re-write the legends of St Patrick and it might have been at Inch that the story of St Patrick banishing the snakes from Ireland was written. This legend refers to the ousting of evil from the Island of Ireland, with the snake as a symbol of Druidic magical practices.

The abbey features gorgeous grounds and offers a breathtaking view of the River Quoile. Downpatrick Cathedral, the resting place of Saint Patrick, can be seen off in the distance.

Game of Thrones fans might recognize these ruins as the place where Robb Stark was called out to be the "King in the North" by his supporters.

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The ruins are open year-around. 

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Added By

taylsliotta

Edited By

robdowling, Rob Dowling, jddarcy

  • robdowling
  • Rob Dowling
  • jddarcy

Published

September 11, 2019

Updated

July 31, 2024

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Inch Abbey
Inch Abbey Rd
Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, BT30 9AT
United Kingdom
54.336501, -5.729763
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Nearby Places

The Grave of St. Patrick

Downpatrick, Northern Ireland

miles away

Tullyboard Windmill

Portaferry, Northern Ireland

miles away

Saint Cooey's Well

Ards, Northern Ireland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Downpatrick

Downpatrick

Northern Ireland

Places 2

Nearby Places

The Grave of St. Patrick

Downpatrick, Northern Ireland

miles away

Tullyboard Windmill

Portaferry, Northern Ireland

miles away

Saint Cooey's Well

Ards, Northern Ireland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Downpatrick

Downpatrick

Northern Ireland

Places 2

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