Mount Melleray

Mount Melleray or Scrahan. Traditional Music and Dance flourish here, classes are held regularly and local groups presents concerts and drama during the year. Melleray groups do very well on a National scale in competitions, such as, Music Drama Public speaking. The entire community take an active role in social events.

Mount Melleray Abbey

As seen in the photograph, the buildings are impressive and on a site which overlooks most of the southern half of County waterford. A Cistercian Monastery founded here in 1832 and named after their Abbey at Melleray, Brittany. The townland is Scrahan and the area is equally well known by either name. Following French persecution in 1831 the community, under the guidance of their prior, Abbot Vincent Ryan moved from Britanny to Kerry before settling in Scrahan. In 1849 the Monks set up a Monastery in Iowa USA and named it New Melleray.

Scrahan is one of many Mountain communities with strong ties to their language and customs

Once the domain of Academics and Scholar's, the largest single group in occupation now would be the Scout Centre. The National Scout Museum is housed in part of the old College, the result of the tireless, selfless work of Mr Jim Halley R.I.P. The centre caters for large numbers of Scouts from all over the world each year. They become part of the way of life, large straggling columns of brightly dressed young men and women, with everything but the kitchen sink on their backs, laughing and singing. Long may it last... The centre has it's own shortwave Radio Station - Callsign EI 5MRC. Melleray - Scrahan is definetly worth a visit, your every need is catered for, from your inner self to gourmet meals plus, if you are wise, a feast of Traditional Music and Song ..