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I Location

II General Description

The church comprises a chancel (w. c.8.00 m ), mainly 13thc. and an aisleless 15thc. nave. Of the original conventual buildings the sacristy, adjoining chamber and the W wall of the E range survive. There is a sealed chamber on the far S of the E range which is also 13thc. Part of the original 13thc. cloister arcading survives, but most is a replacement of c.1860 from a restoration led by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. Most other surviving features are 15thc. or later.

The chancel has a number of surviving, plain 13thc. features including the rebuilt N and S windows and the triple E window. There is also a round-headed 13thc. sedilia in the S wall of the chancel. This has bulbous bases with a chamfered torus below nook-shafts. Simple capitals support the arch, which has a filleted angle roll, front and rear, with a pointed moulding on the soffit. The label has a raised, central keeled roll on the angle, flanked by a smaller roll. There is an aumbry in the E end of the S wall, of two chamfered orders.

On the S side of the chancel is a plain round-headed (not ashlar) S doorway leading into the sacristy. This has an open stone stairway (modern) leading to an upper floor. The entrance to the upper chamber is round-headed of one chamfered order with a chamfered label and there is a plain round-headed window in the upper S wall. The upper parts of the building are restored.

The sacristy has a S doorway leading to a chamber with a barrel-vaulted roof and a plain round headed window, restored on the exterior. The exterior S doorway to this chamber is round-headed with a chamfered, restored label with acanthus label stops. The chamber abuts onto a smaller chamber on the W, which is only accesible via the cloister.

Romanesque sculpture is found on the reset N doorway, and on the doorways and windows of the E range.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

(i) N Doorway, nave (reset)

Pointed, of four orders. No bases, the shafts rest directly on a torus attached to a square plinth. The second, third and fourth orders are coursed, with engaged nook-shafts and capitals with attached necking. The imposts are hollow-chamfered with a hollow between two rolls on the upright, followed by a groove above. The decoration of the capitals is very fine and highly complex and has its inspiration in waterleaf capitals and vine-scrolls. The acanthus leaves which form the bulk of the foliate decoration have fluted lobes and scalloped edges. The jambs are severely out of alignment giving the doorway a skewed appearance.

Dimensions

First order

No bases, chamfered jambs with the reveal carved with a heavy abstract relief - probably unfinished foliage carving. The upper two courses on the L and three courses on the R are original, the rest are modern replacements.

L capital: a symmetrical, repeating pattern of pairs of entwined, hanging acanthus leaves contained by pairs of curved tri-lobed leaves. Above these are further hanging leaves, the outermost lobes of the which touch the adjacent, mirroring leaves. The carving extends onto the interior face of the order and there is a tiny leaf growing from the necking here.

R capital: the lower part is carved with pairs of hanging leaves contained by their thick, cable-moulded stems, two pairs on the W face and one on N and S faces. The angles have a smaller scale version of the same ornament. Above is a row of leafy swags and then a row of hanging leaves. The upper leaves echo the form of the upper hanging leaves of the L capital. The carving extends onto the interior face of the order.

The arch has an angle roll to both front and rear faces, flanked by a hollow which cuts into the roll. The soffit has a deep hollow with a central flattened roll.

Second order

L capital: thick, cable-moulded stems, two growing from the necking at the centre of each face and one from the outer angles, cross over to form a lozenge on each face surrounded by half-lozenges. each lozenge and half-lozenge contains a pair of hanging leaves except on the upper NW angle, where two leaves touch back to back on the angle.

R capital: similar to the first order L capital, but the upper hanging leaves grow from thick, reeded stems which rise up from the necking and behind the lowermost leaves and are bound together by a herring-bone patterned sheath at the top.There is also a tiny flattened pair of leaves above the necking in the centre of the W face . The stems on the N face are cable-moulded.

The arch has an angle roll, followed by a smaller roll on the face and by a deep hollow on the soffit which cuts into the angle roll.

Third order

L capital: a scroll of foliage on each face, with reeded stems branching to form pairs of hanging leaves and some single leaves. Two leaves touch on the lower angle to form a large, rounded boss. The capital is slightly damaged on the angle and some details are indistinct owing to weathering.

R capital: as L capital but with smaller leaves and finer detailing and without the boss.

The arch is as the second order arch.

Fourth order

L capital: as the first order L capital, but more simple, lacking the lowermost hanging leaves.In their place is a small concave leaf form, with two thick stems curved over this.

R capital: as the first order L capital, but in place of the the lowermost hanging leaves is an elongated palmette flanked by a thick inward curving stem which disappears behind the foliage. The stems on the N face are reeded.

The arch is as the second order arch.

The chamfered label is carved with a row of large pellets along the chamfer. The number of pellets per block varies between two and five, most have three.

Interior

The jamb has a slight groove on the face of the arch.

(ii) Chapter House

Round-headed of three orders to the exterior and two to the interior.

Dimensions

First order, shared

The bases, above an integral square plinth, have a fluted skirt over a roll. The skirt is longer over the angles. The bases support half-column, keeled responds with capitals above plain necking.

L capital: a massive, shared capital with s-hooks and, on the E side, s-hooks and shallow carved foliage, below two tiers of bowed, leaves which join on the angle. The upper tier is undercut on the angles. The lobes of the leaves have fine, incised lines along their length. Further leaves sprout from the centre of the S face.

R capital: as L but with s-hooks on the W, and reeding on the E below the leaves. A central stem on the face is carved with herringbone.

The impost is hollow-chamfered, with a hollow followed by a fine roll then a fillet on the upright. This continues over all orders, terminating in a plain stop.

The arch has a keeled roll on the soffit flanked by a further roll. On the face (interior and exterior) there is a deep, semicircular hollow which cuts into the soffit roll.

Second order

Bulbous, Attic-type bases, the R damaged, with weathered leafy spurs and torus above an integral square plinth, supporting three-quarter, attached nook-shafts with necking.

L capital: leaves on the angles, the tops bowed or furled, volute-like. At the bottom centre of each face is small bowed leaf.

R capital: similar to L capital but more crudely executed and with small 'hoods' between the furled leaves, instead of the bowed leaves. Probably unfinished.

The arch has an attached nook-roll.

Third order

As second order.

L capital: double scallop (the W face has one and a half-scallops) with long, pointed leaves on the cones above a plain collar. The shields are carved with inverted palmettes and there are clasps between the shields with a tiny pointed leaf above.

R capital: as L capital but with two symmetrical leaves in each shield and delicately incised sheathing. On the R in a triangular recess on the face of the order a tiny leaf is carved.

The arch is as the second order arch.

The hollow-chamfered label has the same mouldings as the impost (hollow, fine roll, fillet). The L label stop is carved on soffit and face with pairs of palmettes sprouting from top and bottom of a thick stem. The R label is carved on soffit and face with staggered discs, two on the face, two on the soffit. There is a short row of beading in the hollow of the label adjacent to the discs.

Interior

Of two orders, the first described above.

Second order

The triangular bases have fluted skirts of three tiers on the L and two tiers on the R followed by three-quarter attached nook shafts with a deep hollow between first and second orders and a deep incised line on the face.

L capital: a complex symmetrical pattern composed of scrolling, finely-reeded stems with many palmette terminals, some with a row of berries beneath the leaves. The stems have sheathing and clasps.

R capital: on each face is a pair of symmetrical leaves, inward facing and holding between them further clasping leaves, two leaves sprout from the top, one facing the inner, and one the outer, angle. A few tiny leaves lie outside these.

The arch and label are as the interior second and third orders, no label stops.

(iii) Slype

The exterior (L) S jambs, apart from the fourth and fifth orders and the lower part of the third order, are restored. The interior second order (L) N side is restored from the impost down. Each order has plain bulbous/Attic bases on square plinths

Dimensions

First order, shared

The respond has a central keeled column, flanked by a half round colonette. The form of the necking and capital echoes the transition from the keeled central support to the outer colonnettes. The capitals are stiff-leaf type.

L capital: fleshy, reeded stems intertwine and terminate in heavy, hanging leaves, one row above the other. The leaves have fleshy rounded lobes.

R capital: sheathing becomes pairs of fleshy leaves arranged as L capital.

The soffit of the arch is very wide and has a narrow, central roll flanked by two wedges separated by beading, and followed by a keeled angle roll.

Second order

Keeled nook shaft.

L capital: symmetrical finger-like fronds extend from sheathing and arch over a tiny bust of a man. The bust has a round head with small mouth and nose and close-set large eyes. His ears are set very high on his head

R capital: interlaced stems with a fine groove along their length which terminate in leaves. There is a small palmette on the angle.

The arch has lozenges supported on either side by rolls. Originally each lozenge supported frontal, free-standing chevron but this is now lost.

Third order

Keeled nook-shaft between two half-round colonettes. The capital follows the form of the shafts.

L capital: on the centre of each face a thick reeded stem rises, terminating in a small leafy finial flanked by a palmette. Beyond this on each face is a tall inward-facing leaf, a smaller reeded stem with a bowed palmette terminal and a further small palmette.

R capital: on each face two reeded sheathed stems intertwine and have multiple leaf terminals, with two sets joining to form palmettes on the angle. The larger leaves and the angle palmettes have berries at their lower edge.

The arch has lateral, centripetal chevron on face and soffit, the points converging on an undercut keeled roll. a double groove delineates the chevrons.

Fourth order

Keeled nook shaft.

L capital: tall palmettes at the angles, bowed at the top with a smaller leaf between on each face, also bowed.

R capital: as L capital

The arch has free-standing angled chevrons spanning the face and soffit, positioned to form lozenges. These are flanked by a roll and a wedge lies beneath them.

Fifth order

Keeled nook shaft.

L capital: as fourth order, L capital

R capital: as L capital

In the arch, undercut centrifugal, lateral chevron to face and soffit, flanked by a roll and converging on a keeled angle roll.

The label has a keeled roll on the angle, flanked by a small roll.

Interior

Of two orders

First order

The first, shared order has been described above, the arch is the same as the exterior.

Second order

L capital: on each face two symmetrical, reeded stems form a central loop containing a palmette with rows of berries lying beneath. The loop continues to form a scroll above, terminating in leaves. The upper part of the angle is damaged.

R capital: a modern copy of the L capital.

The arch has hyphenated, lateral, centripetal chevron on face and soffit touching a keeled roll on the angle. The chevron is emphasised by a double exterior groove. In the hyphens a six-sided lozenge is created, each with a different design.

From L : leaves; six-petalled flower; leaves with intertwined stems; palmettes with beads at the centre; ten clusters of berries on stems arranged in a circle; bowed palmettes containing a drilled lozenge; concentric lozenges; multi-petalled flower.

The label has a fine roll followed by a hollow then a keeled roll, angled inwards.

(iv) Cloister, E range, entrance to chamber/store

Round-headed of three chamfered orders with a plain tympanum. The only carving is found on the R label stop. The L label stop is missing. The R label stop has two leaves, carved one above the other.

2 Windows

(i) Chancel, E window

Tall pointed triple window. The central, tallest, window has a chamfered label with a double roll on the chamfer and leaf label stops. The exterior, of one recessed order has chamfered labels also with leaf label stops. Partially restored.

(ii) Chamber between sacristy and chancel, E windows

Two plain, round-headed windows with chamfered labels and leaf label-stops (S window, S side, restored; N window, N side, restored). The interior is splayed with plain chamfered labels.

(ii) Sacristy, E window

Plain, round-headed window. On the exterior the restored label is carved with a row of close-set discs, similar to those on the label of the exterior Chapter House doorway.

(iv) Chapter House, N window

Splayed to the exterior and interior with a double opening of one order. A central round shaft with a bulbous base on a stepped square plinth supports a square capital with necking. The capital is triple-scallop with fillets between the cones and has shallow-carved foliage in the shields. The impost is plain and square. The arches are plain with a heavy angle roll which continues to an integral, shallow, square plinth. The soffit has a fine wedge. Above the double arch are two ?modern, heavy, chamfered mouldings creating an ogee shape and leaving a diamond shape between this and the double opening. The exterior label is plain and chamfered with no stops. The interior label is chamfered with a plain stop on the R and carved with leaves on the L

(v) Chapter House, S window

Similar to the N window. The base is bulbous with a leafy spur ornament. The capital has acanthus leaves which join on the angle to form pseudo-volutes. On the face are two addorsed leaves on long stems which curve over a bowed leaf. The interior label stops are carved with leaves. The L is damaged, the R has tiered leaves.

3 Exterior Decoration

a. String courses

(i) Chancel

About 0.60 m below the chancel E window is a round string course (damaged) this extends to the S chancel wall where it becomes square.

VII History

An Early Irish Monastery was founded at Cong in 624, and St Feichin is said to have been the Abbot. Cong was chosen as one of the five bishoprics of Connaught at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 but was not acknowledged at the Synod of Kells (1152).(Gwynne and Hadcock 1971, 166)

The Annals of the Four Masters record that the abbey was raided and burned in 1114 and 1137. Toirdhelbhach Ua Conchobhair (Turlough O'Connor) refounded Cong as an Augustinian Abbey in c.1134.

In 1203 the Annals of Loch Ce record that the town and monastery were completely destroyed by William de Burgo. Rebuilding was probably funded by the O Dubthaigh (O'Duffy) family (Leask 1941, 108).

Ruaidri Ua Conchobhair retired to Cong in 1183 and died there in 1198, although he was buried at Clonmacnoise. Several of his children were buried at Cong.

VIII Comments/Opinions

Leask notes that the abbey church, which he dates to c.1226 (Leask 1960, 59), may have originally had a N transept or aisle, but acknowledges that there is no evidence for this. He estimates that the nave and chancel would have been c. c.36.58m in length (Leask 1941, 109).

The reset N doorway appears to be the earliest surviving feature at Cong. Leask suggests that the jambs of the doorway could be of 15thc. date, but it seems more likely that they are unfinished, and were intended to be carved with palmettes. He dates the doorway to no earlier than 1200. Killanin and Duignan report that the N doorway was reset in 1860, having been moved from a point further W in the N wall. They suggest that it may originally have been a S processional doorway opening into the cloister.

As with all School of the West sites there are numerous comparisons and parallels to be made with other sites. Leask points out affinities between shallow-carved foliage at Cong and Annaghdown (Galway) and remarks on its classical character. (Leask 1941, 109) He also draws comparisons with foliage carving at Boyle. Stalley has pointed out a strong resemblance between the foliage carving on a label stop on the sedilia at Corcumroe and the label stop of one of the Chapter House windows at Cong. (Stalley 1975, 43)

Stalley has suggested that the 'Ballintober Master', thought to be responsible for the carving at Ballintober and Boyle, also worked on the doorways in the E range at Cong (Stalley 1987, 187). The chevron in the fourth order slype doorway is parallelled at Ballintober and a number of the capitals of the doorways in the E range may be compared with similar ones at Boyle (Kalkreuter 2001, 102-103, 106-107; Stalley 1973, 1830) The interior second order R capital of the Chapter House doorway is similar to a capital with palmette and berry carving at Boyle, but is far more like capitals on the reset N doorway. The first order capitals of the Chapter House doorway, are similar to a capital in the nave at Boyle.

Leask sees the influence of Ballintober in a plain three-order doorway in the E range of the cloister. This doorway leads into a small chamber which backs onto a barrel-vaulted chamber on the E (there is no doorway between the chambers). The doorway and this arrangement are paralleled at Ballintober.

Leask dates the doorways in the E range to be between 1200-1220 and suggests that a French sculptor may have been responsible for some of the designs. Stalley also suggests a date no later than 1220 for the doorways in the E range (Stalley 1973, 1830). Kalkreuter suggests a date 'after the first two decades of the 13thc.' (Kalkreuter 2001, 106)

The 19thc. restorations at Cong are generally the work of a local mason, Peter Foy, employed by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness in 1860 (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 179). Foy also worked on the Cloister arcade.

IX Bibliography