Kells Priory

Kells, County Kilkenny

A monastic site located near Kells Village in County Kilkenny

Kells Priory is one of the largest and most impressive Medieval monuments in Ireland and one of the largest and best preserved walled monastic sites in Europe. An Augustinian Priory founded in 1193. It is situated alongside King's River beside the village of Kells, about 15km south of the medieval city of Kilkenny. The priory is a National Monument and is in the guardianship of the Office of Public Works. One of its most striking features is a collection of medieval tower houses spaced at intervals along and within walls which enclose a site of just over 3 acres. These give the priory the appearance more of a fortress than of a place of worship and from them comes its local name of 'Seven Castles'. Located 2km from Kells Priory is a Round Tower Ancient Church and a Celtic high cross said to mark the grave of a 9th Century High King Niall Caille.