Fore

Abbey

The Christian monastery at Fore was founded by Saint Feichin in 630AD, St Feichin died of yellow plague in the 660s, at that time it's believed there were up to 300 monks in the monastery. Between 771 and 1169 Fore was burned at least twelve times. Around 1200 Norman landlords the De Lacys built a Benedictine Priory dedicated to Saint Feichin and St Taurin.

The rectangular church with its three round headed windows was built in the early part of the 13th century but alas 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 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 which was more for residence.

The western and eastern sides of the domestic buildings around the cloisters have been altered over the years and parts of the cloisters were re-erected in 1912. Pictured left is an archway over the southern entrance to the priory grounds. The only remaining pre-Norman building is St Feichin's Church, top picture bottom right, which was built in the 10th century.

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 stayed here. An anchorite is someone who lives a hermits life for religious reasons.

Doaghfeighin

Pictured right is an ash tree with Doaghfeighin a box like structure built of four large stones beneath it, 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.

Crosses

Along the pilgrim trail leading to Fore are scattered many crosses, approximately 18 crosses were situated along the pilgrim trail within a 10 kilometre radius of Fore. Pictured left is a small cross with crucifixion situated in the centre of Fore. A number of the crosses have been badly neglected and a number are missing.

Columbarium

(Dovecote)

Towards the north east of the abbey, up some modern steps pictured right, 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. Two of the original gateways to this medieval town can also be seen in the surrounding fields.

Dovecote