In 1139 the centre of Dublin saw the foundation, by the Benedictines, of a great Cistercian Abbey, 'Capel Abbey'.

Located at the street still known as Mary’s Abbey it became one of the largest and most important medieval monasteries in Ireland.

Dissolved by Henry V111 in 1530 it slowly fell into ruins and its stones were eventually used in the building of Essex Bridge.

Together with the local street names, our name preserves the memory of this great institution. Capel comes from the Latin capella meaning chapel. Our building fronts onto one of Dublin’s oldest streets “Mary’s Abbey”, hence the ‘Abbey in our name.