Abbey in Cong South

On river bank, N of Lough Corrib. Site of early monastery founded in 624. St. Feichin is said to have been Abbot for a time. Church burnt in 1114 and 1137. Turlough O'Connor refounded abbey but destroyed it again in 1203; rebuilding began soon afterwards. Augustinian friars may have been in occupation in the mid 17th century. Later held by Binghams, O'Donnells and finally Brownes (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 166). Many different phases of construction are evident. Greater part of early 13th century church has disappeared; interior used as graveyard. Part of N and S walls and E gable are original chancel (Wth 7.5m N-S) walls; rest is modern reconstruction. Entered through Romanesque doorway in N wall, a later insertion, possibly moved from S wall of church; three light window in E gable; round-arched sedilia in E end of S wall. Doorway in S wall leads to sacristy and small vaulted room in ground-floor of two storey building; modern stairs in sacristy leads to dormitory in upper storey, much of which is destroyed. Door in small room leads to chapter room; E wall levelled; W wall contains string-coursing, above which are several dormitory windows, two of which are transomed and mullioned (17th century date); the others are small flat headed windows. On lower part of W wall are three large doorways and two windows dating to 13th century, most northerly doorway leads to small vaulted room; central doorway leads to chapter room; southerly part of dormitory range is a closed vault of uncertain use. To W is cloister space (30m N-W; 28m E-W), enclosed by several ranges of open cloister arcading; only NE part is original (c. 1200), rest restored in 19th century. Further W is Monks Fishing House (MA120-053007-), built on river bed. This is a national monument (no. 432) in state ownership. The above description has been derived from D. Lavelle (compiler), An Archaeological Survey of Ballinrobe and District including Lough Mask and Lough Carra. Lough Mask and Lough Carra Tourist Development Association (1994), No. 637. Attached images: MA120-053001-_01.JPG E end of abbey church MA120-053001-_02.JPG Nave, interior filled with burials MA120-053001-_03.JPG Chancel, looking E MA120-053001-_04.JPG 12th century doorway in N wall of chancel MA120-053001-_05.JPG Chapter room in the E range MA120-053001-_06.JPG W doorway of chapter room MA120-053001-_07.JPG Detail of W doorway of chapter room MA120-053001-_08.JPG Chapter room window MA120-053001-_09.JPG Doorway to passage/slype, S side of chapter room MA120-053001-_010.JPG Detail of doorway to slype MA120-053001-_011.JPG E range -exterior MA120-053001-_012.JPG Reconstructed portion of cloister arcade Date of upload: 12 December 2014