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Cong Abbey is a historic site located at Cong, on the borders of counties Galway and Mayo, in Ireland's province of Connacht. Founded in the early 7th century, by Saint Feichin, the abbey was destroyed by fire in the early 12th century. Turlough Mor O'Connor, the High King of Ireland, refounded the abbey circa 1135. His son Rory O'Connor, the last High King of Ireland before the Norman invasion, constructed new buildings and also lived the last 15 years of his life at the abbey, dying in 1198. The monastery adopted the Augustinian rule some years later.
The Norman knight, William de Burgh, attacked Cong in 1203, and again the abbey was rebuilt.
The present church, and possibly the fragmentary cloister, where the monks worked and prayed, belong to the rebuilding of the early 13th century. The north doorway of the church, and the elaborate doorways that open onto the cloister from the east range of the monastery, may pre-date the attack by William de Burgo. The doorway with two fine windows on either side belongs to the chapter house, where the monastery’s daily business was conducted as well as a chapter of the rule being read each day. This was also where the community gathered to confess their sins publicly. The sculpture in the abbey, which is some of the finest in Ireland, suggests links to French styles of the period.
The grounds of the abbey also contain a monk’s fishing house, probably built in the 15th or 16th century, on the bank of the River Cong leading towards nearby Lough Corrib. The house is built on a platform of stones over a small arch which allows the river to flow underneath the floor. There is a trapdoor in the floor which may have been used for a net, and the monks could sit beside the fireplace making the task of catching fish a little more comfortable. It is thought that a line was connected from the fishing house to the monastery kitchen to alert the cook to fresh fish.
The Annals of the Four Masters record that in 1150, Muireadhach Ua Dubhthaigh, Archbishop of Connacht, died at Cong aged 75. His name is inscribed upon the processional Cross of Cong.
The first restoration of the abbey was started by Benjamin Guinness soon after he had bought nearby Ashford Castle in 1855. Cong abbey is a national monument in the care of the Commissioners for Public Works.
More about Monastic Sites in Ireland you will find HERE.
Admission
Free
Useful links
www.lakedistrictheritage.ie
irishantiquities.bravehost.com
www.congtourism.com
www.mayo-ireland.ie
en.wikipedia.org
www.irelandwesttours.com
www.goireland.com
www.galway.net
www.libraryireland.com
Attractions nearby
Aghagower Round Tower and Church Ruins within 27.7 km
Annaghdown Augustinian / Arrosian Abbey within 22.1 km
Annaghdown Castle Ruins within 22.3 km
Annaghdown Cathedral Ruins within 22.1 km
Ashford Castle Hotel within 0.5 km
Aughnanure Castle within 13.6 km
Ballinrobe Augustinian Friary / Abbey within 10.7 km
Ballintubber / Ballintobar / Ballintober Augustinian Abbey within 24.3 km
Ballykine Castle Ruins within 3.7 km
Burriscarra Carmelite Augustinian Abbey / Priory, Castlecarra within 21.5 km
Carraigin / Cargin Castle within 14.5 km
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Roman Catholic, Tuam within 29.2 km
Devilsmother Mountain within 24.3 km
Feartagar / Fartagar Castle Ruins within 23 km
Inishmaine Augustinian Abbey / Nunnery within 5.4 km
Old Castle Hackett Ruins within 21.7 km
Ross / Headford / Errilly Abbey, Franciscan within 12.2 km
Shrule Castle Ruins within 13.5 km
Shrule Franciscan Abbey Friary within 13.1 km
St. Mary's Cathedral, Church of Ireland, Tuam within 28.7 km
Turin Castle within 13 km
Hostels
Canrawer House Hostel, Oughterard within 13.4 km
Cong Hostel, Caravan and Camping Park within 1 km
