Ballybeg Priory
The monastery Ballybeg (Irish Prióireacht an Bhaile Bhig, English Ballybeg Priory ) than the Thomas Becket consecrated priory of Augustinian canons was founded in the Diocese of Cloyne in Ireland in 1229 by Philip de Barry. The monastery was dissolved in 1541 during the Reformation. At least since the mid-18th century the monastery was in ruins. The monastery belongs to the Columbarium is one of the best preserved medieval dovecotes in Ireland.
Geographical location
The monastery is located about 200 meters south of Awbeg River and about one kilometer south of the small town of Buttevant, which was the property of Philip de Barry. Layers in the immediate vicinity were preferred to rivers, as they secured the supply of fresh water and also the construction of water mills allowed at that time for both the Cistercian creations and those of the Augustinians. In Ireland, there is often rocky soil in the river valleys, which was taken as the preferred long-term suitable base for the construction of heavy stone. The monastery was built in Ballybeg on the dry side of the valley of the River Awbeg. The soil consists of pale gray limestone, which has also been used for the construction of the monastery.
History
Philip de Barry was one of the descendants of the Cambro - Normans who conquered the late 12th century, large parts of Ireland. He was a nephew of Raymond FitzGerald and Robert Fitzstephen, where he also served as a trustee. At the beginning of the 12th century, he was one of the largest landholders in the area of present-day County Cork. The donation of the necessary for the establishment of land ownership was 1229. In 1235 the founder's grandson David de Barry increased the financial support. Two years later another real property was given. Starting from Ballybeg another Canons in the Diocese of Killala was founded around 1270 with Crossmolina. 1342 Prior John FitzRichard in Dublin was charged with abuse of a man. In the 15th century it was also associated with the dependent monastery in Crossmolina to some grievances. So 1401 John Baret as Prior in Crossmolina deposed, was appointed Prior at commendam of Ballybeg little later in 1410, then provost in commendam of Killala, where he passed the habit and lead a worldly, unbound life, which led to an indictment later.
The monastery was appraised in 1541 in the wake of the Reformation. At this time included more than 200 acres and 14 parishes for possession, estimated at over 54 pounds, but have been assessed because of the rebellions just a little over 12 pounds. The goods were in 1568 granted by Elizabeth I to Viscount Barrymore, a descendant of the founder. To 1573, the monastery was then left George Bouchier for lease of over 41 pounds a year. After this they could not pay, was Stephen Water in 1583, the subsequent lessee. At this time the possessions connected with a still Crossmolina. 1622 belonged to the estate of a total of 2060 Irish acre ( about 13 km ²). Since the mid-18th century at the latest, the monastery was in ruins. But the middle part of the nave and the tower at the west end of the nave were used until the beginning of the 20th century as an agricultural residence.
Architecture
From the nave church, which extends in an east-west direction over more than 50 meters, only the remains of walls around the former choir windows are obtained, and the western end, before the tower was built, whose vault the two lancet windows partially obscured. The northern wall of the nave is not obtained, and the southern only partially, in which this is only the remnants of the later reconstruction. The two arches on the inside of the lancet meet at an ornate capitals, decorated with foliage and sculptures of three human heads. The design is similar to that of the West window of the church in Gowran, however, is performed less competently. The lancet windows dating to the late 13th century, the front tower built in the 14th or 15th century.
On the south side of the nave is a monastery garden is with a side length of about 27 meters. On the east side of the monastery garden is by Leask even the entrance to the Chapter House to recognize. At the north-west corner of the cloister garden is outside of a late medieval tower house with four floors. Southeast of the church is some distance isolates the columbarium, which is medieval in origin though, but so far could not be dated precisely.
The columbarium is housed in a round tower, which is about 8.5 meters high and the inside has a diameter of about 4.75 m, where the walls are approximately 1.14 m thick. On the inside of the outer wall of a total of 11 levels, each with 32 Nistboxen per level are housed for the pigeons to a height of about 4.5 m. Furthermore, the interior narrows gradually by itself vorschiebene stone slabs, all the way up only a circular space for the training and test-flying of pigeons remains.