The ruins of Rhincrew Abbey derive their name from the Irish 'Rinn-iru' translated as 'The Point of Blood', so named after some long forgotten terrible deed.







Rhincrew Abbey was founded as Preceptory of the Knights Templar by Raymond Le Gros in 1183.



Le Gros was an Anglo-Norman commander who had been sent to Ireland by Strongbow in 1170. When he landed in Wexford his force of 100 men and 10 Knights faced an Irish army of more 3000 men. Le Gros achieved victory by rounding up a nearby heard of cattle and driving them headlong into the Irish ranks. More than 1000 Irish were immediately killed or captured and many more fell in the ensuing battle.







Raymond Le Gros died in 1186 and was buried at Molana Priory. An effigy was erected on his tomb with the words ‘Here lies the remains of Raymond le Gros, who died Anno Domini 1186’.



The effigy was removed in the 19th century and its whereabouts is currently unknown.