churches historical around south west donegal

A Church and some relatively recent buildings (1950) to your left, constitute the Franciscan Friary. Visitors are welcome to walk in the beautifully laid out grounds, reflect in the delightful garden or relax with a cup ot tea in the tearoom. A viewpoint at the western end of the grounds overlooks the broad expanse of Rossnowlagh beach.

The Donegal Historical Society's Museum is housed here and is open to the public all year....

Beside the medieval church is a pile of stones on which are mounted a number of Early Christian cross-slabs; one of these has a cross in relief with interlacing motifs and another has an inscribed human figure.

In the graveyard is buried Godfrey O'Donnell who, though dying, ordered himself to be borne in his coffin into battle against Brian O'Neill in order not to disappoint his soldiers and died immediately after he had won the battle....

The only remaining wall of the original church stands, and walk the short distance to the mill. Founded by the Cistercians in the 12th century, the development of the waterwheels to provide mechanical power was mainly motivated by a desire to give this contemplative order more time for prayer and relection.

The derelict site was wonderfully restored by the Abbey Mills Restoration Trust when they acquired the property in 1989. Besides the impressive waterwheels, the centre now contai...