Timoleague

Timoleague Abbey is the main focal point in Timoleague friendly West Cork village and it stands picturesquely at the water's edge at the head of a long sea inlet. In its day it was one of the largest and most important of the religious houses in Ireland.

It was founded by one of the MacCarthys for the Franciscans in 1240, on the site already associated with St. Molaga - hence the name Timoleague, i.e. Tigh Molaga or the House of Molaga.

Timoleague Village is located in the heart of West Cork, just 50 minutes from Cork City, is close for the following villages and towns of West Cork such as Kinsale, Innishannon, Rosscarberry, Bandon, Inchydoney, Clonakilty and its close seaside neighbour Courtmacsherry.

Like all such monasteries, it was suppressed during the Reformation but the monks stayed in the district and returned in 1604 to repair it and bring it back to life. It must have recovered to some degree: the important MSS, known as the Book of Lismore, was in its keeping in 1629. It is said that the monks did a goodly trade in smuggled Spanish wine!

Timoleague has its own Bird Sanctuary area for those with outdoor interests, and for the surfers, they can experience surfing at the Blue Flag Beach at Inchydoney, the Michael Collins Centre in Clonakilty for those interested in local history and for the walkers and water lovers, Courtmacsherry is the ideal place. Take a boat trip from Baltimore and explore the Islands off Baltimore such as Sherkin Island and Cape Clear Island for some great scenery and wildlife.