Fore Benedictine Abbey The Christian monastery at Fore was founded by St Feichin in 630AD. Prior to his death by yellow plague in the 660s, it is believed that there were as many as 300 monks and 2000 students in residence. Unfortunately, the only remaining pre-Norman building is St Feichin's Church, which was built in the 12th century, on the foundation of an earlier structure. Between 771 and 1169, Fore was burnt at least twelve times. About 1180 Norman landlord, Hugh De Lacy built a Benedictine Priory on the facing hillside dedicated to Saint Feichin and St Taurin. Because of its relationship with a French abbey, Fore was regularly seized by the English authorities as "alien Property" when England was at war with France.
The priory was built around the cloister and courtyard. Three round-headed windows of the original chancel still stand. Unfortunately this part of the priory is now closed to the public, but you can tour the rest of the remains including the cloisters which still has some graceful re-erected arcading, shown right. During the 15th century a fortified tower was built at the western end of the priory, shown in the image above, and another tower to the south was used for residence. The defensive design of the tower is evident by the arrow slits and murderous layout of the gateway. The ruins of Fore Abbey are the largest remains of a Benedictine abbey in Ireland. |
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The west tower |
Cloister arcade |
The domestic buildings around the abbey have been altered over the years. Pictured left is an archway over the southern entrance to the priory grounds. This is the way you would approach the priory from the Castlepollard Road. To the southeast a gatehouse, originally built in the 13th century, has been re-built at least four times and it has also served as a residence. The last Prior was William Nugent. He surrendered to Henry VIII in 1539 who spared his life and granted him a pension for the rest of his days. Troops pillaged the Abbey taking anything of value and left it to ruin. The Abbey is number three, of the Seven Wonders of Fore- the monastery built on a bog. |
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Anchorites cell Pictured left is the anchorite's chapel which is an extension to a stone cell which was occupied by hermits up until the 17th century. There is a small plaque inside the chapel commemorating the last hermit in Ireland, Patrick Beglan, who occupied the Anchorite's cell in 1616. An anchorite is someone who lives a hermits life for religious reasons. The Achorite cell is number one, of the Seven Wonders of Fore- the anchorite in a stone .
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On the right is an ash tree decorated with ribbons, coins and other traditional holy well offerings. It stands next to Doaghfeighin well. A box-like formation of 4 large stones surround the well. The name means St Feichin's vat or keene; it was once filled with water and it's said St Feichin knelt in it and prayed. This may have been an even earlier megalithic tomb. - there are a number of bronze age cist graves in this vicinity. This is one of two holy wells at the site. The other well is known as Tobernacogany.
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Columbarium (Dovecote) Towards the north east of the abbey, up some modern steps is a Columbarium or Dovecote, a circular building originally standing about six to eight feet high with a circular wooden roof that was used to house doves/pigeons. The pigeons provided food for the community.
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Situated: From Castlepollard, County Westmeath take the R195 east, then take the third right. The Priory is a kilometre down this road on your left. Discovery Map 41: N 5105 7074. Last visit July 2018. Longitude: 7° 13' 38 "W Abbey Latitude: 53° 41' 2 " N Photos: Jim Dempsey.the surrounding fields. |
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