sentences:  A band of Cistercian monks came to the area from the abbey at Inislounaght in County Tipperary in the late 12th century.Sources vary as to the exact founding date (1180–1200).The foundation is attributed either to Donal Mór Ua Briain (Donald O'Brien), the patron of a number of other religious structures in the historic Thomond region, who died in 1194 or his successor Donough Cairbreach.