The Cork Question Mark

The most haunted places in Cork

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Timoleague

Abbey

Timoleague Abbey is an abbey once home to devout Christian monks, which is situated just outside of the main part of Timoleague village itself. I had the good fortune to find a self guided tour booklet, which are available to visitors just outside the main gate of the Abbey.

The Abbey itself is a very interesting piece of architecture, although not much is left of any type of roof or ceiling. For the rooms, it consists of a Nave and Aisle, Transept, Chapel, Choir, Sacristy, Chapter Room, Cellar ( though this is inaccessible), Refectory, Dormitory, Library, Infirmary Cloister and Kitchen. Here is a picture of the map that can be found in the Abbey, which is engraved in a metal sheet.

This is where the Abbey is located, just outside of the main village, as I stated previously.

History

Timoleague, aka Tigh Molaga, derives it's name from a 7th century saint who founded a monastic settlement on the site we know today as Timoleague Abbey. This saint was supposedly a friend of St. David of Wales and was the one who introduced bees to Ireland.

About 600 years later, the Abbey was officially founded, in around 1240, though the exact date is unknown. The building was founded by one of two powerful families at the time, the Barrrys and the McCarthys, though due to conflicting evidence it is unclear which of the two actually can claim the founding. Both families, one Gaelic and the other Norman maintained the building in it's days of glory.

Between 1300 and 1580, the Abbey flourished under the two ruling families, though this would not last. During the Reformation, it would stand strong while other Abbeys crumbled, though during the Desmond Rebellion against Elizabeth the First, the Abbey lost the protection of the Barry due to the current Lord supporting the failed rebellion, and thus the Abbey was vandalised, and even stolen from during this timeframe.

The worst event however was in 1642, where after a few good years of creation and practising faith, the Abbey was burnt down by Cromwellian soldiers in 1642, which led to it's ruined state today, as well as the local legends of its' haunted state.

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