Introducing Ballintubber
Ballintubber, County Mayo, Ireland
About
seven miles south of Castlebar (the county town of Mayo), lies a
village called Ballintubber or Ballintober (Gaelic Baile an
Tobair). Ballintubber's history goes back to pre-Christian times,
people came from the east through Ballintubber on their way to the
holy mountain on the west coast now called Croagh Patrick.
When St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in c.441AD, he founded a church at Ballintubber. The present Abbey was founded in 1216 by King Cathal O'Conor. It is the only church in Ireland still in daily use that was founded by an Irish king.
Ballintubber Abbey is known as "the Abbey that refused to die". Through its many vicissitudes, including burning by Cromwell's army in 1653, the Abbey has remained a place of worship despite years of continuous attacks and religious repression.
Built in 1216 for the Canon Regulars of St Augustine, it is beside a 5th century monastic site associated with St Patrick. Ballintubber retains an air of ancient beauty and spirituality and has been restored with simple elegance. Pilgrims set out from the Abbey on the ancient pilgrim route, Tochar Phadraig, and journey some 22 miles to Croagh Patrick.
There is a video display and an interpretive centre at the Abbey
and the grounds are landscaped to portray spiritual themes.
Ballintubber Abbey Retreat Experience
The Ballintubber Abbey Retreat Experience is an amalgam of
solitude, public worship and penitential pilgrimage. The retreat
includes the solitude of Church Island, the challenge of the Tochar,
the quiet meditation around the Abbey and the hospitality of the
local community.
Retreats run from May to September.
The Abbey is open all year round from 9 am to 12 midnight.
For information check contact us at
Tel: + 353 (0) 94 903 0934
Fax: + 353 (0) 94 903 0018
Email: info@ballintubberabbey.ie
For further information check out the Ballintubber Abbey Website.
The Celtic Furrow
Beside Mary Moran's Cottage on N84
- Why does the sun dance on May morning?
- Why the Wren Boys?
- Why the Bonfire
- Halloween?
For further information check out the Ballintubber Abbey Website.
