Mourne Abbey

Mourneabbey (in Irish Mainstir Na Morna) is a small parish just south of Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, on the main Mallow-Cork Road and Rail Line. The population of the parish is about 1,000 people. There are two churches and schools in the area, Analeentha and Burnfort.

History

The Abbey was built c. 1199 by the Knights Templar. It consisted of a church, mill, refectory, and storage buildings with a surrounding wall with guard towers. The Knights Templar were suppressed in 1307, with the Knights at Mourne being arrested and sent to Dublin. The abbey was granted to the Knights Hospitaller. The abbey was abandoned in 1541 after King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries.^[1]

This abbey now lies in ruins, as does Barrett's Castle, built across the river by Brother John FitzRichard in 1335 to protect the abbey. The castle later belonged to the Desmond FitzGeralds before being destroyed by Cromwell’s forces, around 1651.

The parish also played a major role in the Irish War of Independence. A failed ambush of British forces occurred there near the Abbey where eight volunteers lost their lives. Tomás Mac Curtain, former Lord Mayor of Cork who was killed by British forces in 1921, was also from the parish of Mourneabbey.

Sport

Today the parish has a strong sporting element. Clyda Rovers GAA club are the most successful and longest serving club. A new €1.3 Million sporting complex is being constructed at present for the future people of the parish.

Transport

• Mourne Abbey railway station was opened on 1 May 1892 and finally closed on 9 September 1963.^[2]

References

1. ^ Historical plaque at Mourne Abbey
2. ^ "Mourne Abbey station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-19. 

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Cork)