Cong is a small village in south Mayo famous for its 12th-century abbey, the lavish gold and silver processional Cross of Cong from 1123, the magnificent Ashford Castle, and the classic movie, The Quiet Man.
Cong is situated on an island formed by a number of streams that surround it on all sides. Its underground streams connect Lough Corrib with Lough Mask.
Cong is the home of Ashford Castle, a luxury hotel, which was converted from a lakeside castle.
The original castle was built on the perimeter of a monastic site in 1228. The estate was purchased in 1852 by the Guinness family.
The grounds of the castle, as well as Cong itself, formed the backdrop for much of the action in The Quiet Man.
Cong Abbey, a ruined medieval abbey, is where Rory O’Connor, the last High King of Ireland, spent his last years.
The Abbey is also the origin of the Cross of Cong, a Celtic metal cross, which is now held in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
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