Ballybeg West Dovecote, Cork

Ballybeg East

Dovecote

The Columbarium/Dovecote at Ballybeg is the finest example I have seen to date. From the outside it looks like the stump of a round tower, but as you go through the ground floor entrance you are greeted by the most amazing sight. There are eleven tiers of nesting boxes, each row having 32 continuous boxes.

Above the boxes the walls are corbelled, tapering to a small opening that allowed the birds access to the boxes. There is another door high up on the north side that allowed access to the roof. The pigeons provided a source of protein for the monks.

Ballybeg East Dovecote The Columbarium/Dovecote at Ballybeg is the finest example I have seen to date. From the outside it looks like the stump of a round tower, but as you go through the ground floor entrance you are greeted by the most amazing sight. There are eleven tiers of nesting boxes, each row having 32 continuous boxes. Above the boxes the walls are corbelled, tapering to a small opening that allowed the birds access to the boxes. There is another door high up on the north side that allowed access to the roof. The pigeons provided a source of protein for the monks.


Situated: From Charleville in Cork, head south on the N20 through Buttevant. About 2 kilometres after Buttevant Ballybeg Abbey is on your left (Signposted). The Dovecote is on the southeast side the abbey. Discovery Map 73: R 5424 0773. Last visit June 2015. Longitude: 8° 40' 11" W Latitude: 52° 13' 10" N Google Map Photos: Jim Dempsey.

Situated: From Charleville in Cork, head south on the N20 through Buttevant. About 2 kilometres after Buttevant Ballybeg Abbey is on your left (Signposted). The Dovecote is on the southeast side the abbey.