Kilgeever Abbey, Louisburgh, Ireland

Kilgeever Abbey just outside Louisburgh in County Mayo consists of a ruined church, a graveyard and a holy well, where pilgrimages or patterns take place. The site is part of the Clew Bay Archaeological Trail. The church is a multi-period church containing a late medieval doorway. The graveyard on the site is suggested to be from Early Christian times and continues to be in use. Within the graveyard, there is a pillar stone incised with a cross, the graveyard also contained a free-standing stone and a portable stone cross with incised crosses which are now in private ownership.

The church is built on the site of an earlier Patrician church. There is little surviving historical information on the church building. There is a round-headed window in the east, typical of twelfth century Romanesque architecture in Ireland. The church was later modified to include a new Gothic-style door. The door dating to the fifteenth century has a pock-dressed arch and a drawbar as a locking mechanism. There are only foundations remaining of the western gable. Votive offerings were found in the left aumbry in the east end of the church, two niches in the east also contained vessels.

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Beckov Castle

The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.

Jim McJim (2 years ago)
Scenic old abbey with plenty of free parking and situated on an archaeological walking route.

Experience three sixty (5 years ago)
Great views of Louisburgh and the coastline from this site. I would suggest parking at the top of the road and walking down, if it's been raining, appropriate footware is needed

Kilgeever Abbey

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