durrow abbey co. offaly conservation plan - Offaly County Council

H I S TO R I C S I G N I F I C A N C E
The various components of the site dating from
early Medieval times to the present day reflect the
changing for tunes of the site and act as a microcosm
of Irish history. Few sites offer such an insight
into the changing for tunes of the country over such
an extended period. The layering and survival of
the different historic periods at Durrow contributes
to its significance.
The association with significant historic figures
including St Columcille, Hugh de Lacy and Lord
Norbury fur ther enhance the historic significance
of the site .
S O C I A L A N D S P I R I T U A L
S I G N I F I C A N C E
Despite the fact that few cultural bonds existed
between the vast majority of Irish landlords and
tenants with big houses 41 this ancient site has always
held a central place within the community from its
foundations as a monastery in the sixth century.
Local access to the church and graveyard has been
an integral par t of the history of the site.
human intervention or neglect. There are few surviving
specimen trees at Durrow and a paucity of
rare and unusual flora and fauna or habitat.
The exception to this is the pocket of woodland to
the nor th of the gate lodge which is an attractive
area of mature and young trees with a rich variety
of flowers and birds. It is a habitat for badger, fox,
bats and pygmy shrew in addition to introduced
species of mammals including fallow deer, rabbit
and grey squirrel. The area is of considerable interest
as an excellent example of how trees, shrubs
and flowers survive and develop when left to themselves.
Its educational value is considerable.
The location of the Esker Riada is of impor tance
to the site. This is one of the largest sections of
surviving esker in Ireland and is of international significance.
The closure of the graveyard in 1913 caused much
concern locally. More recently the activities of local
community groups and an increased interest generally
in the site have led to pressure for its future
preservation.
A local pattern is still held at Durrow on the ninth
of June every year. The first documented reference
to the pattern is to 1463 when an archery contest
took place. In more recent time the pattern
typically consists of the celebration of mass and a
procession to St Columcille’s Well. The popularity
of this event reinforces the significance of the site
to the local community.
N AT U R A L E C O L O G I C A L
S I G N I F I C A N C E
The woodlands of the Durrow Abbey Demesne
preserve a landscape which was planned and executed
prior to the 1837-38 Ordnance Survey, this
shows mature timber with a distribution which has
scarcely changed in over two hundred years. The
landscape is both an impor tant aesthetic creation
and a place of great cultural impor tance.
While the distribution of the woods is significant,
their content is of relatively little interest, due to
depredations both of storms and of unregulated
39