Page 45 - The Drivers Guide 2019

The Driver's Guide
PRIORY OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
JN 6 (R125 AND R154) TOWARDS TRIM
12 min from exit
This priory was founded in the early 13th century for the Crutched or Crossed Friars of the Order of John the Baptist. This monastery was built on the southern bank of the Boyne just across St Peters Bridge from the Victorine Friary.
ST PETER AND PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
JN 6 (R125 AND R154) TOWARDS TRIM
13 min from exit
Founded close to the temporal power of Trim Castle by the Norman Bishop Simon de Rochfort in 1206 after his cathedral at Clonard was burned down, only a part of the original nave and chancel survive. This was the largest Gothic church in Ireland. Part of the ruined Priory of Augustinian Canons, which was established to maintain the Cathedral, also survives.
BECTIVE ABBEY
JN 7 (R147 AND R161) TOWARDS SKRYNE
8 min from exit
The abbey at Bective was founded in 1147, though much of the remaining ruins date from the 15th century. Overlooking the River Boyne, the ruins include the church, chapter house and cloister. The cloister ruins are particularly well-preserved and feature pointed, gothic arches typical of Cistercian architecture.
DUNMOE CASTLE
JN 9 (N51) TOWARDS NAVAN 15 min from exit
Dunmoe Castle is situated in a tranquil spot and commands a spectacular location overlooking the river Boyne. It once marked the boundary of the English Pale. The Castle was built in the 15th century and was home to the D’arcy family. The castle, originally a four turreted structure, is now, through years of ruin, reduced to
just two.
During the Cromwellian invasion in 1649 the Castle was fired upon from the south bank by passing troops on their way from Drogheda to Athboy, but avoided any real damage even during the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. It remained intact until it was destroyed by fire during the 1798 rebellion and today visitors can see what remains of the four-storey castle.
TRIP HIGHLIGHT
KELLS TOWN AND MONASTIC SITES
JN 10 (R147) TOWARDS KELLS 4 min from exit
A centre of Christian settlement since the earliest days of Christianity in Ireland, the world famous Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript, was produced by monks here around 800 AD. The original is in Trinity College, Dublin but there is a copy housed in Kells heritage centre. The Abbey at Kells was probably founded in the sixth century by St Columba. It was refounded in the early ninth century by monks fleeing from Iona after the Viking raids. However, Kells itself was plundered at that time and its church destroyed. A new church was built in 814. In the 12th century the Augustinians established a priory here.
LOUGHCREW CAIRNS
FOLLOW M3 TO N3 (VIA R163) 17 min from end of motorway
The cairns at Loughcrew form the largest complex of passage graves in Ireland, much older than the better known Newgrange. The megalithic structures were originally built about 4000 BC as burial chambers. The cairns are in two groups; each of which is worth a visit. Carnbane West includes 15 cairns. One of the finest examples, Cairn L, is roofed and contains superb symbolic carvings in good condition. This group is some 2 km walk from the car park on gently sloping ground. Carnbane East includes Cairn T, also roofed and with excellent engravings, and is a shorter but steeper walk.
IRELAND’S ANCIENT EAST 43