Ireland’s first stone-built church

The name Duleek derives from a word meaning ‘house of stone’ and this is the first reference in Ireland to such a church being made from stone rather than wood. St Patrick established one of Ireland’s first monasteries here in 487AD and the village has been steeped in religious history ever since.  You can also see the 12th-century ruins of St Mary’s Augustinian priory, a 15th-century fortified church, and a 19th-century Anglican church which is now a restaurant. On the grounds of the monastery, you can find interesting tombs and the Celtic Cross of Duleek. This beautiful cross stands six feet tall and has interlacing knotwork and geometric patterns on it. Duleek has been sacked several times by Vikings in 830 and 1149 and was also pillaged by the Normans in 1171. In April 1014 the bodies of Brian Ború and his son lay in state here on their way to Armagh.