Monasterboice (Mainistir Bhuithe)

An early monastic site famous for its towering high crosses.

Founded in the 5th century, Monasterboice is home to Muiredach's High Cross, considered the finest of all Ireland's sculptured crosses, its panels carved with scenes from the Bible. A round tower and ancient churches stand alongside.

At a glance

• Early monastery, founded 5th century
• Muiredach's High Cross, Ireland's finest
• Round tower and carved biblical scenes

In County Louth

Monasterboice is in County Louth, Lú in Irish, which means “named after the god Lugh (Lú)”.

More in Louth

• The Cooley Peninsula (Cúailnge): A mountainous peninsula in County Louth, and the setting of Ireland's great epic, the Táin Bó Cúailnge.
• Carlingford (Cairlinn): A medieval village beneath the mountains on Carlingford Lough.
• Drogheda (Droichead Átha): A historic port town on the Boyne, scene of a notorious 1649 siege.

Other places of this kind

• The Cliffs of Moher (Aillte an Mhothair): Sea cliffs located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region.
• Newgrange (Sí an Bhrú): A prehistoric monument in County Meath, older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids.
• The Giant's Causeway (Clochán an Aifir): Around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns on the Antrim coast, a UNESCO site wrapped in the legend of Finn McCool.
• Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch): A beautiful glacial valley of two lakes, home to one of Ireland's most important early monastic settlements.
• The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phádraig): A dramatic outcrop crowned with medieval buildings, once the seat of the kings of Munster.
• Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nóis): A great early monastery on the banks of the Shannon, once a renowned centre of learning.

The Irish name

The Irish form of Monasterboice is Mainistir Bhuithe. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.