Fore Abbey
Fore Abbey
4.5
Historic SitesAncient RuinsPoints of Interest & LandmarksChurches & Cathedrals
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Fore Abbey and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
7 within 3 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
99 reviews
Excellent
67
Very good
28
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
0
xygb7dklt
Ottawa, Canada324 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
Our last stop on the Irish Day Tours of the Celtic East we drove to Fore Abbey, the extensive ruins where St. Fechin founded a Christian monastery in the 7th century. Boring series of stone walls and some ruins on level ground. Not much to see. There is a nearby old cemetery and café.
Written May 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teresa C
158 contributions
May 2021 • Friends
A day trip to West Meath meeting up friends, come cross this local attraction. A old original walled town with a 12th century abbey build-in and st finch’s church from 7th century. A walk into a forest and beautiful countryside.
Written June 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Benita F
Dublin, Ireland33 contributions
Jul 2020
Well worth a visit. Lovely well organised walk around the abbey with a special place for children. They have a one way walk due to Covid 19. Start at the car park and go clockwise.
Written July 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fáinleog
GUERNSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS6,731 contributions
A popular spot for "locals" to take a walk on a Sunday afternoon, this beautiful site is less well-known to visitors. It is a very pleasant place to explore for an hour or so, surrounded by unspoilt scenery.
A little background:
The monastery was founded ca. 630ad by St Fechin, who died of the plague some 30+ years later. The buildings were destroyed time and time again, and now all that remains on the original site are the tiny ruined Church of St Fechin and the later Anchorite's Chapel. It is the huge doorway lintel of St Fechin's church that is mentioned in the "Seven Wonders of Fore": "the stone raised by St Fechin's prayer." The story goes that the workmen building the church were struggling to raise the huge lintel. When they returned to work some time later, the stone had been raised into place through the power of St Fechin's prayers.
Much later, in around 1200ad, a Priory was founded in the valley below, and monks were brought from a Benedictine monastery in France. There are still extensive ruins to be seen today, including a cloister and a columbarium (or dove-cote).
And here are the Seven Wonders of Fore; seven "marvels" attributed to St Fechin and the power of his faith:
The Water That Flows Uphill
The Monastery In A Bog
The Mill Without A Race
The Water That Won't Boil
The Tree That Has Three Branches, Or The Tree That Won't Burn
The Anchorite In A Stone
The Stone Raised By St Fechin's Prayer
If you look around the site, you can see all Seven Wonders, however, it took us two visits to locate all of them!
Apart from these, most fascinating to see was the "rag tree" at a place where it is said St Fechin used to kneel in water to pray. If you look very carefully you can see the large stone slabs around the base of the tree. When we visited, the tree was covered in colourful scraps of material: hair bands, handkerchiefs, socks . . . Apparently the tradition is a very old one: if someone were ill or had a wish, then a piece of cloth belonging to that person would be tied to the tree, and when the cloth rotted away either the wish would come true, or the person would be cured. Interesting!
Directions:
From Castlepollard, take the R195 in the direction of Oldcastle and look for signs on your right to Fore (approx. 3miles, 5km)
Fore:
Is a tiny village! It has a coffee shop with information centre and public toilets, and also a pub. There is parking available for several cars near the church and priory ruins.
A little background:
The monastery was founded ca. 630ad by St Fechin, who died of the plague some 30+ years later. The buildings were destroyed time and time again, and now all that remains on the original site are the tiny ruined Church of St Fechin and the later Anchorite's Chapel. It is the huge doorway lintel of St Fechin's church that is mentioned in the "Seven Wonders of Fore": "the stone raised by St Fechin's prayer." The story goes that the workmen building the church were struggling to raise the huge lintel. When they returned to work some time later, the stone had been raised into place through the power of St Fechin's prayers.
Much later, in around 1200ad, a Priory was founded in the valley below, and monks were brought from a Benedictine monastery in France. There are still extensive ruins to be seen today, including a cloister and a columbarium (or dove-cote).
And here are the Seven Wonders of Fore; seven "marvels" attributed to St Fechin and the power of his faith:
The Water That Flows Uphill
The Monastery In A Bog
The Mill Without A Race
The Water That Won't Boil
The Tree That Has Three Branches, Or The Tree That Won't Burn
The Anchorite In A Stone
The Stone Raised By St Fechin's Prayer
If you look around the site, you can see all Seven Wonders, however, it took us two visits to locate all of them!
Apart from these, most fascinating to see was the "rag tree" at a place where it is said St Fechin used to kneel in water to pray. If you look very carefully you can see the large stone slabs around the base of the tree. When we visited, the tree was covered in colourful scraps of material: hair bands, handkerchiefs, socks . . . Apparently the tradition is a very old one: if someone were ill or had a wish, then a piece of cloth belonging to that person would be tied to the tree, and when the cloth rotted away either the wish would come true, or the person would be cured. Interesting!
Directions:
From Castlepollard, take the R195 in the direction of Oldcastle and look for signs on your right to Fore (approx. 3miles, 5km)
Fore:
Is a tiny village! It has a coffee shop with information centre and public toilets, and also a pub. There is parking available for several cars near the church and priory ruins.
Written October 15, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rene V
Nieuw-Beijerland, The Netherlands415 contributions
Jan 2013 • Family
An impressive ruined abbey located in a beautiful valley. Free parkingspace is available near the abbey.
Near the abbey there are some trees covered in small pieces of cloth. The habbit of seeking heeling from illness in holy places goes back to pre christian times. Bandaged used to cover injured or painfull bodyparts are left on the branches of a tree with the idea that also the pain and illness are left behind.
Near the abbey there is a small coffeeshop where we had hot chocolat with marhmellows and very tasty homemade coffee-pastry. The woman in the shop was kind and friendly.
Near the abbey there are some trees covered in small pieces of cloth. The habbit of seeking heeling from illness in holy places goes back to pre christian times. Bandaged used to cover injured or painfull bodyparts are left on the branches of a tree with the idea that also the pain and illness are left behind.
Near the abbey there is a small coffeeshop where we had hot chocolat with marhmellows and very tasty homemade coffee-pastry. The woman in the shop was kind and friendly.
Written January 9, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John_M186474
Armagh, UK29 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
This was a day out and when got there joined one of the groups taking a tour of this site.
Its fairly easy to get about as footpaths are laid.
Located just outside Castlepollard, Fore Abbey is easy to get too.
Its fairly easy to get about as footpaths are laid.
Located just outside Castlepollard, Fore Abbey is easy to get too.
Written February 24, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
renee k
Dublin, Ireland45 contributions
Sep 2012 • Friends
Fore Village and wonders are located near Castlepollard, Westmeath and there is an old abbey that was built on bog with lots more to see
Written February 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
53moa
Dover, NH5 contributions
Mar 2012
Jane O Reilly was so wonderful at the coffee shop her desserts are incredible. She also sells good info on all the seven wonders of Fore. The area is a must .The views are just breathtaking
Written March 28, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David D
1,212 contributions
Mar 2020
The abbey dates back to 630, but much of the ruins today are from the later Norman period. Several chapels lie across the road up a nearby hill. The abbey itself is in ruins of course, but the ruins that remain are substantial and well worth a visit if near the area, or interested in monastic settlements.
Written August 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine M
Dublin, Ireland116 contributions
Jun 2014 • Solo
I went here Saturday evening to have a look round the Abbey. Fore is a gorgeous little rural village, very small with beautiful scenery. Well worth a visit to see the ruins of the Abbey and other historic churches nearby. The best thing about it is it's free. If you want to learn a bit of history and take in wonderful views, this is the place for you.
I would definitely recommend it!
I would definitely recommend it!
Written June 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience