The practice of solitude & silence can be difficult for many. I personally love times of solitude and silence, so I was looking forward to the day. It did not disappoint. We drove a short distance north of Galway to Cong. There is a well-preserved medieval monastery there: Cong Abbey. It was a blustery and rainy day – a good day to put your hood up and enjoy some silence.
It is connected to Cong Woods, a beautiful Irish forest with lovely walking trails. I headed for the woods first, with the words of HD Thoreau in my mind: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach…” I decide to just wander and go where I felt led. Irish forests have much in common with Seattle, actually, there are many of the same wildflowers, and there were some cedars in among the oak and hazel trees. Even some redwoods! What a peaceful time!
Cong Woods 
Entrance gate to woods 
Monks fishing house 
Look closely for the bog iris 
wild swan on the canal
Cong Abbey is a site to behold. A 12th Century monastery built on a site – perhaps originally founded by an Irish saint in the 7th century – much of the structure remains. Today is a historical site, as well as a cemetery. I saw my first real Celtic high crosses here and they are beautiful! It is humbling to walk where Christian ancestors walked hundreds of years ago.
approaching the abbey from the woods 
Cong abbey 
inside the abbey church 
remains of the cloister 
inside the abbey church 
looking east to the lancet windows 
Celtic high cross on a grave (writing in Gaelic) – approx 15 ft tall
A modern, working church (St. Mary of the Rosary) sits on the site between the old church and dormitory building. It is an unassuming church, but inside is some of the most beautiful and intricate stained glass I’ve ever seen. It’s also at eye level. They were designed by a famous Irish stained glass artist, Harry Clark. The photos don’t do them justice, but here they are. I ended up spending quite a bit of time in silence and solitude in this small sanctuary with these beautiful works of art!
Entrance to St. Mary of the Rosary 
Mary 
The annunciation 
The crucifixion 
Jesus the Christ 
St. Joseph 
Our second stop for the day was on Inchagoill island in the middle of Lough Corrib. In Irish the name means “island of the devout foreigner.” This island has been a sacred place since the time of the Druids in Ireland. I won’t go into it’s rich history here other than to say, there is an energy on this island that you don’t find many other places. There are druid portal stones still in place. St. Patrick founded a church on this island in the 5th century. The Augustinians founded another church on this island in the 11th century. Many people attend an annual mass in St. Patrick’s church on the last Sunday of June, the closest to the summer solstice.
It’s difficult to describe the richness of the solitude I experienced on this island. I felt the presence of many along my walk. I spent time at the shore admiring the variety or rocks. I walked through the remains of the churches and villages on the island. What a glorious day of solitude and silence.
Teampall Phadraig
St. Patrick’s church 5th c.
inside Teampall Phadraig 
Druid Portal Stones 
Portal Stones, path facing Yew tree, a sacred tree in Ireland 
Teampall Na Naoimh
“Church of the Saints” 12 c.
Main entrance to Church of the Saints 
Faces of Irish Saints along the doorway 
Inside Church of the Saints 
8th c. Romanesque cross inside Church of the Saints 
Head stone of St. Patrick’s nephew, in shape of a rudder 
Forest of Inchigoill 
Wow. The faces on the stained glass are very lifelike! The ruins on Lough Corrib remind me of pictures of Mayan ruins that have receded into the jungle… How cool to be among human-built structures that old!