Holywood Priory — Attraction in Northern Ireland

If you like history you'll love this. 7th Century site of a Monastry founded by St. Laiseran. The present ruins are 12th century Anglo-Norman Augustinian Abbey built by Thomas Whyte and much of these ruins remain. After the Black death (1348-1350) Niall O’Neill refurbished the church for the Franciscan Order. The Priory was dissolved on New Years Day, 1541, by Henry VIII with its lands passing into the hands of the O’Neill family and then to Sir James Hamilton, First Viscount Clandeboye. Hamilton laid out the town, with a maypole at the crossroads and most of the early buildings are clustered round the Priory. The tower dates from the 1800’s when this was the site of the town’s Parish Church. Also has a really...

This is my home town and I love going back to it. Pity about the old...

A quick well deserve visit. It is free and if your soul into...