「Curlew – An Crotach “Hearing his voice, a god who … … the curlew would almost … … had made the … remake himself, … instantly want to be made … … as the thing he had made.” John Moriarty」 と。
We owe our knowledge for this rare monument to an anonymous writer who visited Cong Abbey and its surroundings in 1855.
Cong is unique in that the River Cong flows both above and below ground. This is due to its location on an esker ridge – a narrow, winding ridge formed by glacial meltwater streams – between Lough Mask and Lough Corrib.
The fast-flowing River Cong is an ideal place to glimpse a salmon leaping or a heron dive to bring a fish to the riverbank.
The building before you, called the Monk’s Fishing House, is believed to have been constructed in the 15th or 16th century. The monks are thought to have sat inside, dry and sheltered, while fishing through an opening in the floor. A fireplace provided warmth in cold weather.
Fish was a staple in the diet of a medieval monastery. It was an invaluable protein, particularly for the 110 days of the year when the eating of meat was forbidden. The Fishing House is built on piers at the confluence of a small stream and the River Cong, and it is part of the stone wall and arch which forms the boundary of the river terrace.
A square hole in the floor allowed a net to be lowered into the water. The building is believed to have been connected by a line to a bell in the monastery kitchen to let the cook know that there was fresh fish available.」
「For five years both skilled and unskilled workers were paid 4p per day to blast their way through 4 miles of solid limestone rock.
Because of the porous nature of the limestone this was to become an engineering disaster because the bed of the canal proved too polous and was unable to retain water.
The government would not provide money to concrete the canal as by this time canals were going out of fashion and railway were in operation in many parts of Ireland.」
「In April 1854 the commissioners directed that work on the navigational aspect of the canal be discontinued;drainage work was to continue to enable the level of lough mask to be regulated. This artificial waterway so elaborately finished with sluice-gates, substantial locks of cut stone and arched bridges has become known as the dry canal.」
The main works include three locks two stone bridges (one at Cong and one at Drumsheel) and aqueduct between locks 2 and 3. The purpose of th locks was to lift the boats up or lower them down as Lough Mask is about 36ft higher than Lough Corrib.The firstt lock
which is located closest to Ashford castte and is sometimes referred to as the Strandford lock.The lock now has a roof and is used as a boathouse.
The second lock was referred to the Cong lock and is located right in the village. This lock was never completed and there is no trace of it today as Lord Ardilaun bought the land in 1876 and closed the section from the first to the second lock.
The building of the canal meant the direction of the road from Cong to Ballinrobe had to be changed and a new bridge had to be built over this road for the canal.」
「The aqueduct was built to allow the river form from the rising water below Cong to flow under the new canal.This all that remains today of the aqueduct.
The third lock is located close to the Cong pubiic car park,on the Galway road and was completed except for the gates.」
Starting from the Cong public car park, and walking North,down to the old lock gate, it is possible to walk the old canal bed to the bridge at Drumsheel,
Walk the length of the canal until you reach large cut stone bridge over thead. After walking under the Drumsheel bridge there is stone steps on your right totake you up the road.」
「Turn back towards the bridge and cross it, returning back in to Cong village in a loop walk. You will arrive down School Hill to the duck pond at 0 ' Connor's supermarket.
permarket.
Please do not litter Cong and LEAVE NO TRACE on your walks.
「Today with some of the trees over 60 feet tall fhey now reach higher than the tower
itself.
Apart from it's usefulness as a viewing tower for Ashford castle's gamekeeper, it is nothing more than a rich man's folly,but the stonework is incredibly good.
The tower is unusual in that there is practically nothing inside except a stone spiral
stairway and small octagonal room below the loof. There are 83 steps in the spiral
Welcome to Congor Cunga Feichin — the narrow isthmus of St. Fechin.
Cong and the area around the village is rich in historical sites spanning over 5,500 years.
Looking around you, there is the Abbey which dates from the 12th century, the old Church of Ireland which originally dates from the 18th century, and the Court House which dates from 1867.
Evidence of early settlement in the local area is still visible. Dating from around 3500 BC are the Court Tombs at Killimor and Toberbiroge. From the later Neolithic and early Bronze Age are the Hilltop Cairns at Ballymagibbon and the Glebe Stone Circles at Nymphsfield. Evidence of settlement during the later Bronze Age and Iron Age can be seen in the Crannogs at Lisloughrey and burial sites at Aghalahard.
From the 5th century onwards the local area became an important Christian centre. Early Christian structures dating from this time can be found on the island of Inchagoill in Lough Corrib. The Abbey was originally founded in the 7th century although most of the buildings that can be seen today date from the 13th century to the 16th century. Ruaidri Ua Conchobair — the last High King of Ireland — spent the last years of his life at the Abbey and died here in 1198. The Abbey was also home to important Irish artefacts like the Cross of Cong, which today can be seen in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.
The Abbey was suppressed in 1542, but Cong remained an important strategic location and was garrisoned by Sir Richard Bingham in the late 16th century. The ruins of castles dating from the 15th and 16th century can be found at Aghalahard and Ballykine between Cong and Clonbur.
The ruins and caves became the focus of interest for many visitors to the West of Ireland in the 19th century, and the filming of “The Quiet Man” in the village in 1951 ensured that the village continues to attract visitors from around the world in the 21st century.」
「Hidden Cong」
The Abbey Graveyard
The grounds and interior of the Abbey have been the final resting place of the people of Cong and its neighbourhood for many centuries. Some gravestone memorials dating back to the early eighteenth century can still be deciphered. For example, in the centre of the chancel, on your left as you enter through the archway, is a beautifully carved slab stone commemorating James Lynch, Abbot of Cong, who died in 1703. Close by, part of a family crest — a right-angled arm with the hand holding a cross — identifies the gravestone of members of the McDonnell family of Ahalard Castle.
George McNamara, a legendary local "Robin Hood" character who died in 1760, was buried close to the east-facing chancel window, while members of his daughter’s family, the Jenings of Fountainhill, lie close to the sedilia — their name just legible still. In a small annexe next to the nearby doorway lies the gravestone of Thomas Bermingham of Rosshill, who died on 23 December 1705 aged seven. He was a grandson of John Browne, who founded the town of Westport.
A short distance away, diagonally opposite the chancel window, is a large Celtic cross marking the grave of Michael O’Brien, killed on the Partry Mountains during the War of Independence. His gravestone inscription is in the Irish language. Translated it reads as follows:
“In fond and proud remembrance of the brave and noble freedom fighter, Michael O’Brien,
volunteer of the West Mayo Brigade of the Irish Republican Army.
He willingly and bravely gave up his life in the heat of battle
for the green sod of his country, fighting against the English
on the slopes of Tourmakeady on the 3rd of May 1921 at the age of 22.
God be with you, true Irish hero, you were never overcome and you did not yield in the hour of need.”
His mother erected this monument.
A white marble plaque, on the high wall in the lower part of the graveyard, remembers Mary Burke, who for fifty years worked at Moytura House, the home of Sir William Wilde, father of Oscar. Dr. Edward Murphy, who served the medical needs of the people of Cong from 1925 to 1954, rests with his wife in a grave in the next section of the graveyard — as do many others who lived and worshipped in this small village over the years. Explore their epitaphs.
Stained Glass Window in Saint Mary of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church, Cong
The light stained glass window of native Irish Art is situated behind the altar. The window contains a central figure of Christ the King. Insets illustrate events in the life of the Holy Family. The window was designed by the Irish stained glass artist Harry Clarke. In 1931 it was installed in the church which stood on the site of the present church. When the building of the present church was completed in 1973 the Harry Clarke window was re-erected behind the altar.
Harry Clarke, Ireland's most famous stained glass artist, was born in Dublin in 1889. His father established a decorating business which included a stained glass division. Harry left school at the age of 14 and became apprenticed to his father. He studied stained glass at Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and won gold medals at National Competitions for his stained glass panels and was awarded a scholarship. Following t his he toured Europe gaining inspiration for his work while visiting medieval cathedrals and churches.
After the death of his father, Harry continued to work in the family business with his brother Walter. Following the sudden death of Walter, the decorating business terminated in 1930. The business was renamed Harry Clarke Stained Glass Studios Ltd.
Harry had suffered from a “weak chest” for most of his life. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1929 and travelled to a sanatorium in Davos on two occasions for treatment without improvement in his condition. He left Davos planning to return to Dublin in 1931 but passed away in his sleep in Switzerland, aged 41 years. He was laid to rest in Switzerland.
Guinness Seat
This circular stone seat by the entrance of Cong Abbey was put in place on the orders of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, Irish brewer and philanthropist and one time Lord Mayor of Dublin, at the site of the old market square in Cong.
It is described simply as a rest in texts of the time and was originally shaded by trees.
The Rising of the Waters
Cong is situated on an isthmus between Lough Mask and Lough Corrib.
Streams flow underground from the Mask to the Corrib and rise again in Cong in what is known locally as “The Rising of the Waters.”
The main risings are Poll Tuathail (Polltoothil), Poll an Chuairteil (Pollacuarleale), Poll Leibin, and Corr na Buinnighe (Cornabany).
To view these wonders of nature, go to the bridge at the northern end of the village on the road to Clonbur.
On the western side of the bridge (i.e. on your left if facing away from the village), you can see a mild disturbance in the water which marks Poll Tuathail, also referred to as The Pool of the Turning Waters or The Northern Pool.
If you look further west, closer to the old sawmill (now the Salmon Hatchery), you will notice the more turbulent Poll an Chuairteil, also referred to as The Whirlpool.
The waters that rise from here flow into what is now called Cong River, which then joins Lough Corrib near Ashford Castle.
To the right of the bridge, just a short stroll down the path beside the garage, Poll Leibin is a very significant rising.
Its waters divide into two streams that encircle the village and join Cong River south of the Abbey.They are supplemented with a major flow from the spring at Corr na Buinnighe (The Round Hill of the Oozing Water).
Industry and Commerce in Cong
It is difficult to imagine small villages like Cong being centres of industry and commerce, but before the industrialisation of the 19th century, industry and commerce were located close to markets and energy.
Because Cong is located on an island surrounded by fast-flowing rivers, it soon became the site for water-powered mills.
The first mill is mentioned in a grant of lands in 1568.
By the late 18th century, two grain mills were in operation at The Rising of the Waters.
By the mid-19th century, Cong boasted four millsーtwo Grain Mills,a Tuck Mill (for processing wool) and a Saw Mill.The last mill in the village closed in the 20th century.
To the east of the village is the site of another industrial development — the dry canal.
Work on the canal began in 1848 and was halted before completion in 1854.
Efforts to regulate the levels of Lough Mask and ensure power to the mills continued until 1856.The canal workings — including locks, bridges, and an aqueduct — can still be seen around the entrance to the car park on the Galway road.
The right to hold a market in Cong has existed since the beginning of the 17th century.
Traditionally, Cong also held a fair day on the 1st of August each year.
By the 19th century, fairs were also held at Funshinogh in May and September.
Cong Caves
The geology of Cong is mainly limestone, and a series of underground rivers flow through this limestone bedrock.
Caves have formed as the waters dissolved the limestone beneath, and subsequently t he roofs of these caves collapsed to expose them to us.
The caves are a natural habitat for a wide variety of fauna in the area, especially bats.
There are many local legends associated with the caves around Cong.
The Pigeon Hole
The Pigeon Hole (Poll na gColum) cave is the most famous cave in Cong and is easily accessible from the village by walking through the wood by the Abbey or by car out the Clonbur Road.
It got its name from pigeons nesting in the ivy growing on the walls of the cave.
The deep cavern was made accessible by the construction of 61 stone steps descending to the underground passage.Water flows through the cave on its underground way to Lough Corrib, though in summer it can dry up. The local legend of the “Fairy Trout” or “White Trout” originates from this cave,where it is I thought that a pair of trout living in the cave were actually young tragic lovers from the area.One of them, a white trout with gridiron burn marks on her side, was caught by an English soldier caught her to trying to dismiss the legend that the pair was inseparable and proceeded to cook her.Upon being left on the hot gridiron, the trout turned into a grief stricken beautiful young maiden begging to be returned to the cave.
Teach Aille Teach-Aille Cave, meaning “House of the Cliff”, is found in Cong Wood near the Abbey. It is a fine example of a natural grotto.From the wide entrance, steps can be seen down into the water-filled chamber, where it is thought that the monks from the Abbey took advantage of the cool freshness of the water as their drinking supply. Kelly’s Cave is situated on the left after the national school on the Galway Road from the village.It is easily accessible by a pathway from a stile in the wall.The cave is part natural and part man-made.The entrance has been built up to resemble a souterrain.
Five steps lead to the ground floor.The cave contains two rectangular compartments, and at the end of the cave four steps lead down to a water source.A hole in the roof near the end of the cave acts as a natural skylight.Kelly is thought to have been an outlaw who used the cave to hide from the authorities,or in other stories, a fugitive who used the cave as a place of refuge after the 1798 rebellion.」
この石碑の碑文は古いゲール語(アイルランド語)で刻まれているようであった。 十字架には「OR DO NIAHOL AG DO GILLIBERD O'DUBTHAIGH RABIH ABAIDDE AGT CUNGA」と刻まれており、「コングの修道院長であったニアホルとギルバート・ オドゥブタイのために祈りなさい」という意味であると。