Mainistir Fhobhair | |
Monastery information | |
---|---|
Order | Benedictines |
Established | 630 CE |
Disestablished | 27 November 1539 |
Diocese | Meath |
People | |
Founder(s) | Féichín |
Important associated figures | Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath |
Architecture | |
Status | Inactive |
Style | Romanesque |
Site | |
Location | North of Lough Lene, County Westmeath |
Coordinates | 53°41′02″N7°13′38″W / 53.683902°N 7.227311°W Coordinates: 53°41′02″N7°13′38″W / 53.683902°N 7.227311°W |
Visible remains | abbey, hermitage, town gates |
Public access | yes |
Official name | Fore Abbey & Fore town gates |
Reference no. | 215 & 220 |
Fore Abbey (Irish : Mainistir Fhobhair) is the ruins of a Benedictine and Early Gaelic 7th century Abbey with associated Mill, Anchorite's Cell, Holy Wells and a structure associated with St. Feichin, all situated to the north of Lough Lene in County Westmeath, adjacent to Fore village. Architectural additions, damage by fire and dismantlement have altered the site's appearance and layout over the centuries.
The 7th century abbey was founded by Saint Feichin in 630 CE and functioned for over 400 years till re-founded by de Lacy in around 1200 as a cell of the Abbey of Évreux, now Évreux Cathedral in France as the 'Abbey of SS. Féichín & Taurinus OB'. Fore is the anglicised version of the Irish "Fobhar", meaning "water-springs". The name is derived from St. Feichin's spring or well which is next to the 'old church' (7th century Irish church with cellae), a short distance from the ruined later monastery. The site is referenced in the Annals of Inisfallen (AI) as "Repose of Fechtnach of Fobar". [1] The Ó Cibhleacháin clan were recorded as the coarbs of the Monastery at Fore. [2]
In the 13th century Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath had built a Benedictine priory in the valley near the Gaelic Monastery. Many of the buildings that remain today (in ruins) are from the 13th and 15th century and have been restored throughout the 20th century, making Fore Abbey and environs one of the largest group of Benedictine ruins and ecclesiastical landscape to have sojourned and remained in Ireland. This priory was dedicated to both St Féichín and St Taurin, of Évreux, founder of the parent monastery in France. As a cell of a foreign or 'alien' house in the 13th century, the English Crown held the lands and manor owned by the when the English and French were at war with each other.
The abbey is also noted for what locals call the "Seven Wonders":
Another important aspect of Fore is the Fore Crosses one of which is in the village of Fore. There are 18 crosses; some crosses are plain (most likely due to wind and rain erosion) whilst others still remain carved. These are spread out over 7 miles on roadways. The lands associated with the abbey in the middle ages were extensive taking in many of the townlands/parishes around Castlepollard.
An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns.
County Westmeath is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It formed part of the historic Kingdom of Meath, which was named Mide because the kingdom was located in the geographical centre of Ireland. Westmeath County Council is the administrative body for the county, and the county town is Mullingar. At the 2022 census, the population of the county was 95,840.
Castlepollard is a village in north County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland. It lies west of Lough Lene and northeast of Lough Derravaragh and Mullingar.
Saint Fillan, Filan, Phillan, Fáelán or Faolán is the name of an eighth century monk from Munster, who having studied at Taghmon Abbey, traveled to Scotland and settled at Strath Fillan.
Cong is a village straddling the borders of County Galway and County Mayo, in Ireland.
Ballysadare, locally also Ballisodare, is a town in County Sligo, Ireland. It is about 7 kilometres south of Sligo town. The town developed on an important crossing of the Owenmore River.
Termonfeckin or Termonfechin is a small village and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It is within the parish of the same name, and lies repeatedly 8 km (5.0 mi) north-east of Drogheda. The population of the village tripled in the 20 years between the 1996 and 2016 census, growing from 530 to 1,579 inhabitants.
The Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organized by the Westmeath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking senior clubs in the county of Westmeath in Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition in Westmeath hurling.
Collinstown is a village in north County Westmeath, situated on the R395 regional road overlooking Lough Lene. It lies 18 km (11 mi) northeast of the county town of Mullingar and had a population of 356.
Lough Lene Gaels is a Gaelic Athletic Association club, based in Collinstown, County Westmeath, Ireland.
The Lough Lene Boat, also known as The Monks' Boat, is an underwater archaeological artifact from prehistoric Ireland. It was discovered in 1968 on the east side of Lough Lene, County Westmeath nearest to the Cummerstown/Windtown townlands of Collinstown. Radiocarbon dating revealed that the boat was constructed sometime between the 1st and 4th century.
Saint Féchín or Féichín, also known as Mo-Ecca, was a 7th-century Irish saint, chiefly remembered as the founder of the monastery at Fore (Fobar), County Westmeath.
Fore is a village, next to the old Benedictine Abbey ruin of Fore Abbey, situated to the north of Lough Lene in County Westmeath, in Ireland.
Cong Abbey also known as the Royal Abbey of Cong, is a historic site located at Cong Mayo, in Ireland's province of Connacht. The ruins of the former Augustinian abbey mostly date to the 13th century and have been described as featuring some of finest examples of medieval ecclesiastical architecture in Ireland.
Ó Beigléighinn or Beglin was the name of a hereditary medical family of County Longford.
Tristernagh Abbey, also known as the Priory of Kilbixy or Kilbisky, Tristernagh Priory, or the priory of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Tristernagh, is a ruined Augustinian monastery in the townland of Tristernagh in the barony of Kilbixy in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is situated on the shores of Lough Iron, about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north east of the village of Ballynacargy.
St Mary Magdalene was a Benedictine priory in Lincoln, England. Along with Sandtoft Priory and Hanes Cell, it was a Lincolnshire cell of St Mary's Abbey in York, England. A surviving building, once owned by the priory, is Monks' Abbey, Lincoln.
Fore is a barony in northern County Westmeath, Ireland. It was formed by 1672.
Gilla an Choimded Ó Duillénnáin was an Irish cleric.
Rathgarve, is a civil parish, religious parish, and townland, in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is located about 19.24 kilometres (12 mi) north of Mullingar. It takes in parts of the modern town of Castlepollard, and it forms part of the religious parish of St. Michael's Parish, Castlepollard. Historically it has been linked to the 8th century monk Dicuil, according to Monasticon Hibernicum. However, he is also associated with Rathgar, in Dublin, which may indicate a misassociation with one of these sites.