New Discovery Trail will open up the wonder of Roscrea's Monaincha Abbey

One of Roscrea's and the Midlands best kept secrets - the 12th Century monastic island Monaincha Abbey - will benefit from significant funding to develop a new walking trail which will open up the site for visitors.

Once home to 800 monks who were led by the enigmatic monk Elisarius, Monaincha Abbey near Roscrea was once an island where women were forbidden from visiting. The site, which has a remarkable otherworldly aesthetic, is infrequently visited by locals or tourists due to no facilities to assist with walking safely to the boggy site and a dearth of signage to direct visitors.

However, that will soon change after €197,991 has been allocated to creating a looped walk called the Monaincha Discovery Trail at the historic site - which has been previously recognised as the 27th Wonder of the World (there are 50 in total).

The genesis of the Monaincha plan stretches back as far as 2013 and saw multiple stakeholders such as Coillte and Tipperary County Council work with landowners to realise the plans. The local authority succeeded in securing funding for the ambitious plans through the Outdoor Recreational Scheme, funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Three towns in Tipperary were awarded substantial grants for the development of new outdoor infrastructure in the countryside - with Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel also benefiting from significant funding.

Expressions of interest were completed last February, with a detailed submission prepared and submitted in May to the Department. Roscrea Councillor Michael Smith (FF) said the original idea for the project surfaced during the Covid pandemic when travel and walking distances were severely restricted.

"Like many families we discovered new walkways and had the opportunity to visit Monaincha Abbey. This is one of the most historical and picturesque ruins in Ireland. It became one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Munster and is often described as 'Tipperary’s best kept secret', Cllr Smith said.

"It was a long road in securing this funding, with many obstacles to overcome. It is all about to change now following our successful application to the Department”, he said.

In preparing the application, discussions and agreements with a number of state agencies and
landowners took place - including Coillte, National Parks & Wildlife, Office of Public Works and Tipperary County Council.

This will be the first phase of the development in Monaincha Abbey, with potentially five separate walking trails that can be provided for all within a close proximity to the Historical Abbey site.

"The Monaincha Discovery Trail will contribute to a healthy active lifestyle while building on the economic and tourist potential in Roscrea. It will benefit the local economy and in particular focuses on strong engagement with landowners.

"Roscrea’s first walking trail will attract visitors and strengthen our local economy. I would like to thank Tipperary County Council for their support and commitment in ensuring this project received seed funding. Working together we can achieve so much more”, Cllr Smith said.