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Cong
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Cong is a small
village in south west Mayo close to the border with Co Galway. The
village is situated on an island formed by a number of streams that
surround it on all sides. Cong is located on the narrow strip of
land that separates Lough Corrib and Lough Mask. It is close to the
towns of Headford (16km) and Ballinrobe (10km) and the villages of
Neale (6km) and Cross(7km)
Cong is the home of the internationally renowned Ashford Castle, one
of Ireland's finest hotels. Ashford Castle was converted from a
Victorian faux lakeside castle, built by the Guinness family. Arthur
Guinness (Lord Ardilaun) devoted much of his life and considerable
wealth to the development of the castle, the walks, the forest and
local historical artifacts. Today Ashford Castle is a tourist
attraction in its own right.
Cong also has a fine example of a ruined medieval abbey, Cong Abbey,
built by the High King of Ireland, Turlach O'Connor in 1120 for the
Augustinians . Rory O'Connor, the last High King of Ireland, is
buried in the grounds. The Abbey contained the ornate Cross of Cong
featuring intricate Celtic Artwork. The 'Cross of Cong' is now held
in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. The Market Cross in the
village commemorates two former abbots of the monastery.
Cong was the filming location for John Ford's 1952 Oscar-winning
film, The Quiet Man, featuring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and Barry
Fitzgerald. Much of the movie was filmed on the grounds of Ashford
Castle. The Quiet Man Cottage Museum is a novel concept which will
give the visitor a total Quiet Man experience as if they were
actually 'on-set'. Located by the river at Circular Road, Cong,
between actual locations used for the filming, the ground floor of
the cottage has been designed as an exact replica of 'White-o-Mornin'
Cottage.
The Cong Canal – or Dry canal - built in the 1850s as a famine
relief scheme, was a failure. Though it was only 5km long it could
not hold water, being dug into porous limestone. The intention was
to join Loughs Corrib and Mask
With a location close to Lough Corrib and Lough Mask and situated at
the rising point for the river Cong, it is not surprising that Cong
village is a fisherman’s paradise. The salmon fishing season is 1
February to 30 September and the brown trout season is 1 March to 30
September
The Ashford Castle Golf Club is a beautiful 9 hole 2996 yards par 35
parkland course. The course was designed by well known Irish golf
architect, Eddie Hackett and was created with imaginative
integration of natural features and hazards. The superb championship
course at Ballinrobe is just 11km from Cong
Cong village was the home of Sir William Wilde, historian and father
to prominent playwright, novelist, poet, and short story writer,
Oscar Wilde |
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Cong Holiday Homes - County Mayo, Ireland