Group launch tourist pamphlet on Drumlane Abbey

A Drumlane group keen on improving and promoting interest in heritage in the local area have complied a short pamphlet highlighting one of the county’s most treasured and historic monastic sites.

Members of the Drumlane History and Heritage Group officially launched the publication last weekend, and presented copies of it to various local businesses, particularly hostelries in the area, in the hope of attracting even more visitors.

Chairperson Michéal McCabe believes the pamphlet will become an important signpost for tourists staying locally, who otherwise might not know about Drumlane Abbey and its position overlooking Grafinny Lough.

The group have played an integral role in encouraging further, and respectful, exploration of the round tower and church.

In 2021 the group invited guests along to see firsthand the exciting work being undertaken, and meet with the expert leading the technical side of the project which involved magnetic resonance imaging.

The significance of Drumlane complex is appreciated as a national monument, and the group is continuing to work with researchers on methods to examine it on a “larger archaeological scale”.

“For more than 1,000 years the church here and the monastery were a central destination within the ancient Breifne kingdom,” explains Michéal. “Drumlane Abbey is one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland, yet we’ve found that many visitors to the area are unaware of it. So we felt it important to address that.”

The publication has been supported by Cavan Heritage and Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, and Michéal says this is only the “tip of the iceberg” both in terms of understanding the site, and of what the groups intends to do to better promote it.

“We’re trying to get Drumlane better known about, it’s a national monument, and its recorded in the annals, and its importance is there for everyone to see, but maybe it could do with a little more recognition.”