Timoleague Abbey is an ancient Irish monastery located in the town of Timoleague in County Cork. Located not far from the village of Clonakilty, this abbey dates back to the 13th century, and is said to have been founded by an ancient Franciscan brotherhood.
The present abbey was founded in 1240 on the ruins of a previous monastery founded in the 6th century by Saint Malaga. Rather pretty, it was enlarged by Donal Glas McCarthy in 1312, then in the 16th century with the help of patrons.
Unfortunately, the monks were temporarily expelled from the abbey during the Reformation. However, they were able to return in 1604.
In 1612, the abbey was sacked by English soldiers. They destroyed the stained glass windows and damaged parts of the building. However, this did not prevent the monks from staying until 1629, when the abbey was abandoned.
Today, visits to the abbey are free of charge. The surviving ruins are extremely charming, and many of the architectural features have survived intact. And don’t miss the small cemetery… Its crooked graves give it a strange romantic character…
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