Aghaboe Abbey

We were on the R434 between Durrow and Borris-in-Ossory. These are the types of roads I
enjoy, as they twist through the countryside, and you never know what you might come
across. As we rounded one particular tight turn, Aghaboe Abbey appeared in the landscape.

Situated only four miles North West of Ballacolla, it names comes from the Green fields that
even today still surround its ruins. Aghadh Bho ( Chainnigh) translates as the grazing field
of the cow of Canice. There has been a place of learning here since the sixth century, and
also a long history of plundering and rebuilding.
The crumbling walls were restored in 1984, and we could not wait to explore and discover
some of its hidden wildlife. Nature despite our best efforts, never really moves out of a
building.
The car park is fine and big, and as we locked the car we could hear a Robin singing. Across
the road in some ash trees in a garden, rooks were having a long conversation, and their
harsh calls echoed between the walls of the Abbey. These birds would have been well
known to the previous residents, as the young of the rooks were often eaten in a pie.
Rooks are a common farmland bird.

The high walls of the abbey have ivy leaved toadflax, growing in crevices in the old lime
mortar. This has long trailing purple flowers, and is also known as mother of thousands, as it
produces so many off spring. The tips of the stems dont grow towards the light, but are
attracted to a dark hole in the wall, where the seed is deposited.
Inside the large damp recesses of the window, are covered in green moss. This is an
important building material for birds in spring, when they are finishing their nests. I also find
a sedum, and this plant grows in rocky and stony habitats like old walls, and they can have
attractive yellow and white flowers.
Through the windows I can see the landscape, has fine hawthorn hedgerows, and these
provide wild creatures with food, shelter and nesting places. Animals will also take cover
from the biting wind and the baking sun.
White lichens are splattered across the top and sides of an old tomb, and they only grow a
few millimetres each year. We all go silent for a few moments as everyone gets lost in their
own thoughts. This is broken by the loud calls of a Magpie. As we head back outside we see
a flock of starlings. They will nest in holes in the walls in lose colonies.
White Lichens growing on the tomb.

An Oak tree has been planted by the side of the Abbey, and it is around 50 years old. They
can live for up to a thousand years, and support a whole community of wildlife.
We open the large gates of the graveyard, and are disappointed that the church is locked,
but this is a sign of the current times. The lawns around the grave are well tended, and the
only botanical interest is a dandelion. Where there is regular mowing it has the ability to
hug the ground and avoid been cut.
Lawson cypress trees have been pruned into large tear drop shapes. Birds will roost in these
trees during the night and when the weather gets really cold and wet. In the distance I can
see the distinctive outline of a ring fort. It is covered in trees and these are islands of nature
in the agricultural landscape. Superstition protected these features for generations as they
were the home of the little people, or entrances to the underworld and best of left alone.
Later on at home I do some research and it reveals that a wooden tower was stood there.
Soldiers were stationed there to keep a watch out for attackers, and also arms were stored
there.
History and nature and meant to be shared with children.
A line of tall beech trees dominate in one field, and there must be road hidden from view by
the boundary wall of the graveyard. As we leave the grounds of the church we find an
elderberry tree growing by the base of the wall. This was sown by a bird after he ate the
berry and the fruits are delicious for nature and people.
Back at the car we see a woodpigeon feeding on ivy berries along the roadside hedgerow
and hear Housesparrows calling. This trio of birds is complete by the shy calls of a Dunnock,
and the landscape around the Abbey is alive with wildlife.
Woodpigeons feed on the hedgerow berries.

A last look around the car park reveals the yellow flowers of Groundsel growing in the
gravel. This plant can be found throughout the year, and my grandad used to feed the seeds
to his canaries. Maidenhair spleenwort that looks like a girls platted hair, and it grows tight
against hard surface of the car park wall.
We say goodbye to the Abbey but will definitely pass this way again. Just before Ballacolla
village I see the old nests of rooks or crows some Horsechestnut trees. Rooks build large
bulky nests and their colonies are noisy places to visit in spring. As we turn in the village I
see another rookery and this is another great reason to return in the springtime.