Timoleague Abbey Traditional Cache
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A beautiful abbey on the banks of Courtmacsherry Bay, right on the side of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Timoleague gets its name from its original Irish name Tigh Molaga, meaning the Home/House of Molaga. St. Molaga was reputed to have brought beekeeping/honey to Ireland. Timoleague Abbey is one of the few early Franciscan foundations with extensive remains in Ireland. It lies within a very picturesque landscape, beside a small but colourful village of medieval origin and overlooking the river Argideen’s estuary and Courtmacsherry Bay. The buildings themselves present many interesting features and some intriguing quirks, such as the mysterious wall passages and the tall arches on each side of the choir. Also of note is the fifteenth century inserted tower, a typical example of a Franciscan bell-tower. The cellars in the east range are another notable feature: one of them leads down to an outbuilding that would have opened directly onto the river, allowing for ships to deliver fish or other goods to the friary. At Abbeymahon, on the road to Courtmacsherry lie the ruins of a Cistercian Abbey – Abbeymahon Abbey. It predates Timoleague - founded in 1172 by Dermot MacCormac MacCarthy, King of Desmond. There is another geocache here so why not take the walk along the old railway track, see how many different birds you can spot along the estuary and discover the ruins at Abbeymahon. History. Timoleague Friary was founded by the Franciscan order in 1240. The abbey was built on the site of a monastic settlement founded by Saint Molaga in the 6th century. The Four Masters state that the Monastery of Timoleague was founded by MacCarthy Reagh, who lived near Kinsale, in 1240. The McCarthys were over-lords of Corca Laidhe, at least since the 13th century, and received tribute from the chiefs of the district. The abbey was extended by Donal Glas McCarthy in 1312, and by Irish and Norman patrons in the 16th century. The monks were dispersed by the Reformation, but returned in 1604. In 1612, the abbey was sacked by English soldiers who also smashed all of the stained glass windows, but much of the significant architecture remains. The friars remained in the abbey until 1642 when the friary and town were burnt by English soldiers under Lord Forbes.
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(Decrypt)
Ernq nyy nobhg vg - xarr uvtu va jnyy
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