Royal Abbey of Cong
Royal Abbey of Cong
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Plan your visit
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
14 within 5 kms
Attractions
8 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
464 reviews
Excellent
254
Very good
172
Average
34
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Extremely normal person
Houston, TX70 contributions
June 2024 • Family
The Royal Abbey of Cong is one of the more extensive ruins that we visited in Ireland to which one had complete access. The ruin is pretty extensive, and, while roofless, there are a lot of walls, stairs, arches, and even some large fragments of the cloister arcade. The ruins are pretty haunting, even on the stunning June day on which we visited. The abbey church is across the street from the rest of the ruins, but worth a visit. It is so spare and peaceful. The steeple interior is festooned with beautiful plants, which are probably pulling it down, but are beautiful in the meantime.
The abbey ruins are right next to a very nice park, nice for a quick turn. Overall, the whole experience is a very pleasant, spiritual experience and our entire party (ages 7-77) enjoyed it very much.
There is nearly no information about the abbey accessible on the site, which is what keeps me from giving this a 5. While the ruins are beautiful, one feels a lack of context-- like one is missing something important. This haunted our visit to Cong.
Overall, this is a nice, quick visit, appropriate for families.
The abbey ruins are right next to a very nice park, nice for a quick turn. Overall, the whole experience is a very pleasant, spiritual experience and our entire party (ages 7-77) enjoyed it very much.
There is nearly no information about the abbey accessible on the site, which is what keeps me from giving this a 5. While the ruins are beautiful, one feels a lack of context-- like one is missing something important. This haunted our visit to Cong.
Overall, this is a nice, quick visit, appropriate for families.
Written 16 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
porchy
Milton Keynes, UK305 contributions
Sept 2021
The abbey is well worth a visit, nice to walk around the ruins and the river. There are a few loop walks through the woods stating in the abbey grounds. Plus you can walk into the grounds of Ashford Castle Estate on one of the walks. A great few hours spent here and in Cong.
Written 22 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BuckIsLove
Edmond, OK93 contributions
Nov 2022
For my nine year old daughter, these ruins were a highlight of the trip. I guess since we really don't have many places like this in the U.S., the romantic notion of exploring ruins really appeals. She loved hopping around the ruins going through every stone portal she could seeing where it might lead to next. Make sure to go past the cloisters, following the path to the river to visit the ruins of the monk's fishing house right on the river. We took some of our best photos there in the morning sun.
Written 30 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland11,260 contributions
July 2021 • Solo
I loved Cong Abbey, a 12th century Augustinian Abbey on the site of an earlier 7th century church.
It is largely ruined but the cloister is still lovely and the site is lovingly well kept.
Its free to enter and there a lovely lawn in the centre as well as a park out the back. Do not miss the 15th century Monks Fishouse by the river.
It is largely ruined but the cloister is still lovely and the site is lovingly well kept.
Its free to enter and there a lovely lawn in the centre as well as a park out the back. Do not miss the 15th century Monks Fishouse by the river.
Written 26 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roy v
Traralgon, Australia5,937 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We were in Cong yesterday looking around this lovely small town and found the ruins of the Abbey.
It was good to walk through the old ruins and admire some of the stonework that the masons did generations ago .
It must have been quite a impressive building in its day
It was good to walk through the old ruins and admire some of the stonework that the masons did generations ago .
It must have been quite a impressive building in its day
Written 23 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay McKee
2 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
Spent a day in Cong Co Mayo, what a wonderful little village. Strolled around the beautiful Abbey and the gardens of Ashford Castle (thanks to the directions from the nice man in tourist office). The Village was spotless with loads of lovely flower baskets. The only downside to our trip was a local gaa member "shouting"from across the road about buying a ticket for a raffle while we were getting a photograph at the Quiet man statue. Following a fabulous lunch in Pat Cohans Bar we arrived back to the car park beside the Abbey only to see the same man urinating at the front of our car. The strange thing is the public toilets are only about 50 metres away,which my wife used earlier and said how clean they were. A bitter sweet visit to Cong. J McKee Armagh.
Written 21 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BruinSeniorTraveler
Sacramento, CA290 contributions
Dec 2012 • Friends
The path into the ruins is scenic and inspiring. This is not an amusement park for kids. It has great historical and cultural significance. Cong Abbey is right in the center of the quaint little town of Cong in County Mayo -- its claim to fame is that it was the location setting for the filming of The Quiet Man.
Written 23 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
haynes9
Ganado, AZ415 contributions
Apr 2011 • Couples
The Abbey is right in the center of the quaint little town of Cong in County Mayo, home for the filming of The Quiet Man. We had no idea Cong Abbey existed, but what a really neat place! It is well marked with signs helping one to understand what they are viewing. It is such a picturesque place that a couple was there having their formal wedding photos made.
We probably spent at least two hours just taking it all in. It is very close to a group of shops and local eateries. The famous Monk's Fishing House is also nearby and warrants a look.
If you are in Cong, this is an absolute must see attraction. The Tourist Board maintains an office just a stone's throw away, so there is plenty of information to be gotten from the friendly staff there.
We very much enjoyed seeing Cong Abbey. It's one of the places that I would return to in a minute if we ever get the privilege to travel in Ireland again.
We probably spent at least two hours just taking it all in. It is very close to a group of shops and local eateries. The famous Monk's Fishing House is also nearby and warrants a look.
If you are in Cong, this is an absolute must see attraction. The Tourist Board maintains an office just a stone's throw away, so there is plenty of information to be gotten from the friendly staff there.
We very much enjoyed seeing Cong Abbey. It's one of the places that I would return to in a minute if we ever get the privilege to travel in Ireland again.
Written 23 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
art801
County Dublin, Ireland19 contributions
July 2019 • Couples
We where here in cong because of my wife
Love of the film the quiet man we went for a walk to the Abbey and the grounds where like stepping in to a post card it was so peaceful if you do find yourself in cong well worth seeing
Love of the film the quiet man we went for a walk to the Abbey and the grounds where like stepping in to a post card it was so peaceful if you do find yourself in cong well worth seeing
Written 3 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sleepysandy53
Torrance, CA31 contributions
June 2017 • Couples
The Abbey has been pretty much taken care of, considering others we saw. It really touched me in a way the others did not too. It was so serene all around the place. You must walk out through the Abbey, though the trees, across the bridge to the forest. Walking along the paths you don't hear the town, cars or many people. With the river running though the trees & the sounds of the birds you truly understand why the Monks choice this spot all those years ago. I haven't felt that close to God in a long time. You can fish, hike many paths, go on the lake in a small boat, just to name a few of the things surrounding the Abbey. The entire area is a MUST see if you are in the area.
Written 19 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victor B
Madison, Wisconsin
is it free to walk around inside the walls of the abbey ruins??
Written 29 May 2015
It is absolutely free to walk around this beautiful ruin. You can walk from them along the river Corrib through the grounds of Ashford Castle, which is a luxurious hotel. There is a charge for a walk in their grounds. I think it is €5 for an adult and maybe €3 for a child. They are impressive and worth a look, especially since the hotel has been upgraded recently. It is also possible to take a beautiful trip on the Corrib Princess beat around the lake, with a visit to an island there. There is a good commentary on the boat. I forget the price of this.
Written 30 May 2015
Bfeagin
Columbia, Maryland
Is there an admission price to view the grounds? Are there hours when it is closed?
Written 27 January 2015
We were with a tour group so I don't really know if there was an admission fee. We met a great guide there that conducted the very informative tour. The visit would not have been the the same without it. You might inquire if there are special times tours are available.
Written 28 January 2015
Showing results 1-4 of 4
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing