The abbey was the daughter-house of Nenay Abbey in County Limerick, and was the only medieval Cistercian house in County Kerry. The name given by the Cistercians, Kyrie Eleison (from Greek: Lord Have Mercy) was in accordance with the order's tradition of giving names which reflected the locality - in this instance the word Kyrie (Lord) being similar to Ciarrai (County Kerry). The first abbot was Christian O Conarchy who retired to the abbey where he spent his remaining years, being buried there in 1186. A subsequent abbot was deposed in 1227 after being involved in the Conspiracy of Mellifont.