Dig finds medieval monk was living it up in Kilkenny 'pad'

Archaeologists in Kilkenny have discovered new evidence of the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by a medieval Irish monk.

This was unearthed recently during ongoing excavations that prove at least some senior clergy feasted on roast swan, T-bone steaks and imported fine French wines. This, despite their public image as men who professed poverty and who were supposed to be devoted to “the simple life”. A 14th-century toilet, known as a “garderobe”, was also excavated.

The archaeological dig is taking place in the grounds of Rothe House, an early 17th-century Irish merchant’s town residence and garden situated in the centre of Kilkenny city. But the excavations have uncovered evidence of a previous “town house” there which belonged to Cistercian monks.



Róisín McQuillan, manager of Rothe House, said the original dwelling was the “city pad” of the Abbot of Duiske Abbey – an important Cistercian monastery located by the river Barrow at Graiguenamanagh, some 30km (20 miles) away. The dig has confirmed that successive abbots “enjoyed the high life in the city while the rest of the monks lived a simple, ascetic existence at the abbey”.

Archaeologist Cóilín Ó Drisceoil, who led the team, said “the garderobe was the medieval equivalent of a luxury jacks” and the significance of the “quite rare discovery” was that “it provides an important insight into how a medieval abbot lived”.

Bones discovered showed the abbot would have “eaten roast swan and the best cuts of beef – including T-bone steaks”. The senior monk would have drunk French wine – then a symbol of real wealth – imported from Bordeaux through New Ross port.