Eight hundred years ago in 1224, monks from the Cistercian Abbey at Whitland travelled all the way to the south coast of Ireland to establish Tracton Abbey in County Cork.

Eight centuries later, on September 15, the local community celebrated ‘Tracton Abbey 800’ with a Mass and exhibition in the local Church of the Sacred Heart, Minane Bridge where some stones from the ruins of the original 13th century abbey (located a few miles away) are on display in its grounds.

Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin with Cistercian Fr Denis Luke O’Hanlon assisted by fellow clergy from the Cistercian Abbey in Mount Melleray, Co. Waterford; retired parish priest Canon George Murphy (who delivered the homily) and other local priests. In attendance also were Cistercian nuns from Glencairn, Co Waterford and Church of Ireland Rector for Templebreedy, near Tracton, Rev James Power who served for many years in Cardiff.

In addition to the church service, there was an exhibition about the daily life of a Cistercian (Rule of St Benedict) and a community celebration in the marquee and grounds organised by the local pastoral council.