Abbey of Tristernaugh, Co. Westmeath

Bigari, Angelo Maria; Turner, Joseph Reverend

Abbey of Tristernaugh, Co. Westmeath

Date

1970

Authors

Bigari, Angelo Maria

Turner, Joseph Reverend

Publisher

National Library of Ireland

Citation

Aubrey Gwynn and R.N. Hadcock. Medieval Religious Houses, Ireland. London, 1970

Description

'This is a copy of Angelo Maria Bigari's drawing seen on 2122 TX (3) 30, see cgjc1170. An inscription that accompanies this image is as follows: "Tristernagh which in Irish means a place of thorns or briers was built (Henry II) by Geoffrey de Constanton and at dissolution was given to the Piers family. In 1780 the steeple was 74 feet high. Not a vestige now remains (1875)". The drawing is a view of the 13th century Augustinian priory of Tristernagh, County Westmeath, Ireland, showing the nave in the centre. The abbey is dominated by the tower which rises above its arches into an octagon shape. The text accompanying the engraving in Grose's Antiquities tells us that the building was demolished in 1783, so Bigari only got there just in time. It is difficult to determine what the nature of the ceremony to the right of the picture is. This ceremony shows people dancing around a person standing on a dais, holding in his arms a pole, possibly with a figure on top.' (www.nli.ie)