Cong Abbey

Probably my favourite place in Ireland. The Abbey itself is interesting enough, with some really old graves and a rich history. There’s no information boards so read up before you go. The best part though is the little fishing hut over the river (walk through the abbey, across the grassy square and follow the path to the river). The monks used to sit here and fish through a hole in the floor. With the water bubbling past and drowning out the other noises it’s a lovely, peaceful spot. Often you can have it to yourself as you’re slightly off the tourist route and any tourists who do make it to Cong get caught up in the ‘Quiet Man’ hype. See if you can arrange to go on a good day — with the sun streaming down through the trees this is the best place in Ireland.

This place has something for everyone — it has a real charm and mystery all of its own. The Abbey — Augustinian — was an important one with lots of history but the fact that it is located in Cong makes it even more so, as Cong appears in much of Ireland’s legends and mythology. The Abbey overlooks Lough Corrib — famous for its fly fishing — so if you like to swing the arc of plenty, fishing is just a bend of an arm away! Right beside here, is also Cong Wood with a great mixture of Cypress, Redwood trees etc — these trees are so homely that you could take them home with you! The place was visited many times by WB Yeats in the 20’s and Oscar Wilde spent his childhood in the area so it has something for the literary lover as well! So a quaint Abbey in an even quainter village surrounded by a lake and wood. If your shadow could become a living being, it would surely do so here, such is the wondrous energy of the place.