Timoleague Abbey

As I was approaching the village of Timoleague. I noticed that this seems to be a charming little village built by the water. However, the largest structure which caught my attention was large set of ruins. This turned out to be the Timoleague Abbey. The ruins of the abbey occupies a prominent position by the water so it is hard to miss it. Already there were numerous vehicles parked outside the abbey. This also seems to be a major stopping point for bikers. Surprisingly, there was only a single truck here selling coffee. I was kind of hoping there would be food. But I get ahead of myself, I think I should first have a look at the abbey.

The origins of the abbey date back to almost the foundation of the village itself. To understand this, one needs to know about Saint Molaga who is said to have introduced honey and beekeeping in the area. Saint Molaga established a monastery in this area. In 1240, the abbey was constructed on the old site. Numerous events affected the abbey, including the reformation, but perhaps none were as destructive as the ones inflicted by the English. I don’t understand the point of sacking monasteries. Perhaps it is to instill fear in the local population so they won’t resist. The English sacked the monastery at least twice. I surprised that much of the structure still remains.

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