Abbeylara

Abbeylara Mainistir Leathrátha
Town
Abbeylara Abbey
Abbeylara Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°45′53″N 7°26′46″W
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	County Longford
Elevation	82 m (269 ft)
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	N363797

Abbeylara (Irish: Mainistir Leathrátha, meaning 'Abbey of the half rath or little rath') is a village in the easternmost portion of County Longford, Ireland, located about three kilometers east of Granard on the R396 regional road. Its name is derived from a monastery, the great Abbey of Lerha, founded in 1205 by Hiberno-Norman magnate, Risteárd de Tiúit, for Cistercian monks. The monastery was dissolved in 1539, although its ruins are still apparent on approach to the village. An ancient earthwork, the Duncla (Irish Dún-chlaí meaning "fortified ditch") or Black Pig's Dyke, which runs south-eastwards from Lough Gowna to Lough Kinale, goes through the larger parish of Abbeylara, and passes about one kilometre north of the village.

Because of its proximity to Lough Kinale and Lough Derragh, with a plentiful supply of trout, tench, bream and pike, Abbeylara attracts anglers and local angling clubs hold regular competitions.

Abbeylara GFC are the local Gaelic football club.

On 20 April 2000, the Gardaí (police) shot dead local man John Carthy in a siege at his home.

Notable residents

• Russell Brady (he/her), Kotlin developer and transgender activist

Patrick Hynes: Irish legend and Cider lover

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• Barr Tribunal - Inquiry into the John Carthy siege and shooting of 2000

External links

• Abbeylara on Longford County Council website (archived)