About 7 Kilometres outside Tullamore on the road (N52) to Kilbeggan lies Durrow Abbey.
Durrow Abbey was the site of an important Monastery founded in 556 A.D. by Saint Columba (also known as Saint Colmcille).
It became an Augustinian Abbey in the 1100's and today a small church sits on the site, the Monastery disappearing some time ago. The present Church was built in 1733 and rebuilt some time around 1802. The building is beautiful in its simplicity.
There is a luminous and intricately carved High Cross inside the Church (moved inside to protect it from the elements) carved in Cream coloured Sandstone.
The site and Church are in the hands of the OPW and open to the public although there was no signage at all marking it either on the road or immediately outside.
There is also a Holy Well here, Saint Colmcille's Well which has a modern plaque on it, just to the side of the Church (about 100 metres along a grassy walkway).
Durrow Abbey House (Jacobean Revival Style) is also located here but there is no public access to this building at present (Spring 2019). Its ownership is in dispute at the moment, having previously been sold by the state for a nominal sum to a Charity.
Colmcille/Columba himself is an interesting character, having been the subject of possibly the first recorded case of copyright infringement. Along with Saints Patrick and Brigid, Colmcille makes up Ireland's Trio of Patron Saints.
In the mid 6th century he copied a book of Psalms (Psalter) belonging to Saint Finnian. Generally in this period that would have been standard practice as books were often produced by Scribes meticulously and slowly copying previous manuscripts and sometimes adding to them.
On this occasion however Saint Finnian took exception and and claimed Saint Colmcille's copy as his own.
Anyway, long story short .....King called in to mediate, King rules in favour of Saint Finnian, Colmcille not happy and disputes ruling, dissent fomented, battles ensue, 3000 dead. Colmcille exiled to Iona in Scotland. Founds Monastery here and continues conversions to Christianity with renewed vigour in Scotland.
Durrow is also associated with the Book Of Durrow, one of the earliest written Illuminated Manuscripts which is housed in Trinity College Dublin and is older than the Book of Kells.
The present site from what I can gather had strong associations with the Herbert family and is also associated with the family of one John Toler, "the Hanging Judge".
Toler was a foe of Daniel O'Connell. Seemingly Toler was ignorant of Law, Corrupt and Scurrilous, and often even fell asleep during hearings before contemptuously passing a death sentence on the accused, often accompanied with an evil or malicious witticism or remark.
He was also the man who sentenced Robert Emmet to be Hung, Drawn, and Quartered in 1803.
Because of Emmets background the authorities were very polite and merely hung and beheaded him instead ! ! !
The site at Durrow in Offaly is a small tranquil location with some nicely inscribed Cross Slabs, a beautiful Sandstone High Cross and a small Holy Well. The Pulpit and Pews in the Church are in the process of restoration and resting in the Graveyard are some very interesting figures from times past.... Well worth visiting if you are in the area, it's a site of important history and significance.
Nearby and very close to Tullamore is Charleville Castle, a Neo Gothic Castle described as the finest example in Ireland so it would be relatively easy to visit both on a nice day. I've put a few photos of the Castle here as well.
Don't confuse Durrow here in Offaly with Durrow in Laois which is miles away altogether.
Durrow holds an annual Pattern (Patron) Day Celebration which includes a small procession from the newer Church in Durrow to Colmcille's Well on the site here at Durrow Abbey.
Charleville Castle, Tullamore
