Mainistir Leathrátha

The Irish name Mainistir Leathrátha derives from 'mainistir' (monastery), 'leath' (half or side), and 'rátha' (ring-fort), referring to an abbey that stood where a fortified enclosure once existed. According to local tradition, an early monastery was founded in the fifth century by St Patrick, who appointed St Guasacht (son of Míolchú, Patrick's former master) as its first abbot; however, the v...