'Walk back in time'- Drumlane Abbey
Drumlane abbey is a hidden gem found close to Milltown village in Co. Cavan. As you make your way up the winding and diminishing bóithrín, a sigh of relief is felt as the road eventually opens up onto a spectacular monastic site perched above the shimmering Garfinny Lough. It is a prime location, chosen specifically for its dominance over the landscape, a waterway, and protective features. In C55AD the early Christian site was founded by St.Columba, and most likely a wooden structure was built at this phase in its history. The features we see today are what remains of the monastic settlement of the Augustinian monks who built the first stone foundations in the 12th century. It has born witness to thousands of years of tumultuous Irish history, from Viking raids, to numerous fierce battles between the ruling local clans of the O’Rourke’s and the O’Reilly’s.
The most striking and important feature of the site is the early Christian round tower, of which only half remains today. However, the features that captivate me most are the enormous empty-paned windows that almost appear to lance the sky above. They form majestic view finders that frame vignettes of the surrounding pastoral landscape.
As you wander through the empty vestiges of history, you can’t help but be in awe of not only their mastery of building techniques and craftsmanship, but of the value and consideration they placed on the landscape. Rarely do you see such pride and thoughtful construction in todays world, where buildings have become a blight on the landscape, rather than in perfect union with it.
I love to walk through these passages of time, conjuring up images of how life was back then, and the people who built and lived in these structures. A hidden world for anyone to explore and feel connected to a time long gone by.
