Abbeyshrule
Brief History of the Area
Abbeyshrule village and barony, known also in early Christian times as Shrule, Shrowle etc, takes its name from the Irish word stream or river. It is sited on a major ford or crossing on the Inny River.
Early bronze era implements, such as the Clonbrin Shield are evidence of pre-christain habitations. Later ninth century crosses are found in the cemetery. The village area was a stronghold of the OFarrell Buighe Sept. In later centuries a major medieval fair was held here on the feast of Corpus Christi. Latterly the village and parish were a part of the King Harman Landlordship.
In 1817, the Royal Canal came to Abbeyshrule and economic life was transformed. A thriving water milling industry existed on the Inny. At the end of the nineteenth century, hundreds of canals and mills declined due to railway competition etc. The area retreated into the hidden Ireland scenario.
Signs are now of a new revival with the canal restoration, aviation and increasing rural tourism evident.
Abbeyshrule Abbey (Flumen Dei)
The Abbey was founded from Mellifont in 1150 AD by the Cistercians during the lifetime of their founder St Bernard of Clairvaux and endowed by OFarrell, Prince of Annally. It enjoyed large possessions west to Ballnamanagh, the Town of the Monks, and to the north the medieval chapel of Agharra.
The Abbey was built on the site of an earlier Christain settlement whose ninth century abbots are recorded in the Annals. A surviving early Christian High Cross is preserved in the village. The monastery was sacked on two occasions, by an army from the Pale and at a later period by Hugh Ruadh ODonnell. Suppressed during the reign of Elizabeth I and eventually confiscated by the Earl of Roscommon (Dillon).
Some of the earliest stonework survives. The Cisterian obligatory water mill was powered by the Inny. The actual site stretched to a large area before boundary walls were built around it during the last century. The tower house was a medieval watchtower used by the autonomous OFarrell Clan.
The River Inny
The River Inny is a main tributary of the Shannon. It is called after the mythological Princess Eithne who drowned and was cremated downstream at the rapids at Tenelick (Tine-Leac). The rivers renewable energy properties in the last century drove large milling turbines in this village and the immediate vicinity. These properties were lost by the Inny drainage of the 1960s.
The fine stone bridge was constructed in 1800 replacing an earlier wooden structure that straddled a major ford at this point. Nature has restored and actually enhanced the beauty and tranquillity of the river banks after a period of necessary and inevitable spoliation caused by river drainage.
The Inny River, near Abbeyshrule is a good source of fishing. Roach and pike can be found in some of the slower glides throughout the year. In April/ May large catches of roach can be expected on the big sweeping bend south of Abbeyshrule. Upstream of the airfield the river travels through peat bog and on this stretch of the river, the main species found are roach and pike but occasionally some fine rudd and hybrids are caught. Anglers are requested to respect local club rules and return all fish carefully back into the river.
Royal Canal
The Royal Canal is now fully navigable from Dublin to Abbeyshrule. Navigation will soon be extended westwards with the lifting of the low-level culvert at Abbeyshrule. The local branch of the Royal Canal Amenity Group has restored the canal harbour at Abbeyshrule and a new boat slipway was constructed in 1996. The Canal forms an important part of the heritage of Abbeyshrule and offers great potential in the areas of boating, fishing, walking and nature study.
The canal crosses the River Inny by the imposing Whitworth Aquaduct, half a kilometre north of the village. The Aquaduct was underpinned several years ago when the river drainage scheme was carried out.
Pallas - Birthplace of Oliver Goldsmith
This famous poet, playwright and novelist was born at Pallas, Abbeyshrule on November 10th 1728. Pallas is situated 5km from Abbeyshrule off the Ballymahon road. There is a statue of Goldsmith at Pallas marking the location of the original Goldsmith homestead.
Goldsmith was the son of a clergyman and at the age of 14 went to study at Trinity College, Dublin. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1749. Following years of misadventure and misfortune Goldsmith began a career in writing. In 1770 he published his greatest poem "The Deserted Village ", a portrait of life in his native countryside, once a thriving rural community now left empty, because of the effects of the industrial revolution.
"Ill fares the land to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates and men decay ". The Oliver Goldsmith Summer School takes place annually in Abbeyshrule, Ballymahon and the Three Jolly Pigeons in June/July.
Abbeyshrule Airfield
There has been a long tradition of flying in Abbeyshrule dating back to the 1950s. The present airfield was established in 1977 and a new tarmac runway as laid in 1977. Abbeyfield Airfield is a popular location for light aircraft enthusiasts in the Midlands and throughout Ireland.
There are two flying clubs based at the airfield offering flying tuition, the Inny Aero Club and Aero Club 2000.
The Abbeyshrule Air Show which is Irelands longest running airshow is held annually at the airfield, on the second Sunday of August. The Airshow is an exciting and spectacular occasion and regularly features Aircraft from the Irish Air Corps, US Air Force and some of the best civilian acts in Ireland and the UK. The annual fly-in held in conjunction with the Air Show regularly attracts visitors from the UK and from Europe, in particular Germany.
Abbeyshrule Twinning Project
Abbeyshrule - Villingen-Schwenningen (Germany)
Regular exchanges take place between groups from Abbeyshrule and the city of Villingen-Schwenningen which is located in the Black Forest Region of the state of Baden-Wuerrttemberg in Southern Germany. A twinning agreement was signed in August 1997. The agreement has been recognised by the European Union.