DUNBRODY ABBEY.
This large and beautiful ruin, one of the finest in all Ireland, was a monastery of the Cistercians, and was founded in the twelfth century by Henry de Montmorency, marshal of Henry II., who was the first abbot, and richly endowed it with a portion of his lands, surrendering the rest on embracing the religious life. There is a fine cruciform church with nave, aisles, transept, and choir, the nave being separated from the aisles by rows of pointed arches. The tower is low and massive. Grose mentions the ruins as even more beautiful in his time than at present, instancing particularly the great east window and west door. Near the Abbey are the remains of Dunbrody Castle, also dating from the time of Henry II., but which are now built in with a modern house.