Corcomroe Abbey amidst the fertile rock

One of the more awe-inspiring places in the Burren is Corcomroe Abbey, a 13th century Cistercian monastery. It’s in the northern part of the Burren in an area named Bellharbour, just down the road from where I was staying at Richard Hearns’ Milking Parlour cottage, so I could practically walk to the Abbey. The Abbey was originally called “St. Mary of the Fertile Rock”—and I find the term “fertile rock” a great descriptor of the Burren.

Corcomroe Abbey, or what’s left of it, is a Gothic ruins masterpiece. In the late-12th century, a group of monks came with royal funding to set about building an abbey using local limestone and the labor of a handful of masons. Legend has it that upon completion, the Irish king who’d commissioned the building had the masons killed so that they couldn’t duplicate the design of the abbey elsewhere.

Except for its missing roof, the original stone structure of the church is largely intact and quite impressive. Its interior and the grounds surrounding it contain monuments, tombs, and elaborate carvings. During midday, the site attracts tourists, who may sometimes arrive by the busload, so I recommend visiting at off-hours when you can wander the ruins by yourself.

Corcomroe in Bellharbour, in the shadow of a Burren mountain

Corcomroe—exterior

Inside looking out

An explainer before you enter

Corcomroe—interior

The ancient masonry of Corcomroe

Here is a lovely music video shot in Corcomroe Abbey in 2012 by Luka Bloom. The song is about meditation.