History of the Knights Templar in Medieval Ireland
Introduction to the Irish Templars
Irish Templars in medieval Ireland
Long before myths of buried treasure and secret codes, the Knights Templar left their mark on Ireland — not as warriors, but as administrators, landlords, and stewards of faith. From Dublin’s bustling streets to the remote coasts of Sligo, Templar estates reveal a fascinating story of devotion, power, and mystery that still echoes across medieval Ireland today.
Early Presence of the Knights Templar in Ireland
The first record of the Templars in Ireland appears in 1177, when “Matthew the Templar” is listed as a witness to an Irish charter. Although Ireland was part of the Templar province of England, it had its own appointed Master who also served the English Crown as auditor of the Irish exchequer.
Unlike the Knights Hospitaller, the Templars never had a single headquarters in Ireland. Instead, they managed a network of local preceptories across the island.
Royal Grants and Early Templar Lands
Around 1180, King Henry II granted the Templars Clontarf (Dublin) and Crook (Waterford), along with ten carucates of land. Additional donations came from Anglo-Norman nobles and native Irish lords, such as Matilda de Lacy Butler (Cooley Peninsula, Louth) and the O’Morras (Kilclogan, Wexford).
Templar Preceptories Across Ireland
By the early 14th century, the Templars had eleven major preceptories, forming a decentralised network of estates:
Major Irish Preceptories
Clontarf, County Dublin – principal preceptory
Rathronan and Athkiltan, County Carlow
Gowran, County Kilkenny
Crook and Kilbarry, County Waterford
Templehouse, County Sligo – most westerly European stronghold (1216)
Kilsaran and Cooley, County Louth
Clonaul, County Tipperary
Kilclogan (Templetown), County Wexford
By 1308, these estates ranked third most valuable in Europe for the Order, generating £400 annually.
Administrators, Not Conquerors
In Ireland, the Templars acted primarily as estate managers. They collected rents and funnelled resources to the Holy Land, emphasising spiritual and economic roles rather than military conquest.
Suppression and Trial of the Irish Templars
The Templars’ downfall began in 1307 under Pope Clement V and King Philip IV. Edward II arrested the Irish Templars in Dublin Castle on January 10, 1308. Trials began in 1310 before Dominican friars. Forty-one witnesses, mostly from rival orders, failed to prove heresy.
The Irish Templars were required only to perform penance, were absolved, and sent to monasteries.
Their estates were transferred to the Knights Hospitaller.
Masters of the Templars in Ireland
Walter the Templar – c.1180
Guarnerus – (date unknown)
Hugh the Templar – c.1200–1210
Henry Foliot – c.1210
Ralph de Southwark – 1234
Roger le Waleis – 1235–1250
Herbert de Manchester – 1257–1273
Roger de Glastonbury – 1278–1288
Thomas de Toulouse – 1288
Walter le Bachelor* – 1295–1301
Peter de Malvern – 1300
William de Waryne – 1302–1306
Henry Tanet** – 1307–1308
*Walter le Bachelor died in penance at the Temple Church, London.
**Henry Tanet testified against the Order during trials.
Legacy of the Irish Templars
Although their time in Ireland was brief, the Templars left a lasting mark. Place names like Templetown (Wexford) and Templehouse (Sligo) still reflect their presence. Their story intertwines faith, administration, and the complex relationship between religion and power in medieval Europe.
Sources: Irish Masonic History and Jewels, 2014 - Wikipedia Commons