Fore

Fore is situated in a marshy valley and takes its name from the Irish word fobhair, meaning a spring or a well. The earliest church at Fore was founded by St. Féichín around AD 630. St. Féichín is said to have died during a great plague in 665 after having fasted against the plague. Fore was granted to Hugh de Lacy as part of the liberty of Meath in 1172 and about 1180 he built a motte and bailey castle, which is located near the modern village. About this time a Benedictine priory was established in the valley. The remains at Fore consist of St Feichin’s Church, the Benedictine Priory, two medieval gate ways, two holy wells, St Mary’s medieval parish church, a mausoleum known as the Anchorite’s Cell and a number of 17th century crosses. St. Feichin’s Church St. Féichín’s Church is a stone church built on the site of the monastery founded by St. Feichín. It is recorded that a church here was burnt down in 816. The surviving remains consist of a nave and chancel building. The nave, with its projecting side walls, is the oldest part of the church and was probably built in the late 10th or early 11th century. It boasts an impressive doorway at the west end. The massive lintel over the door features an encircled equal-armed cross. At the beginning of the 13th century a chancel was added and a beautiful pointed chancel arch was inserted into the gable of the older church. The original window of the chancel was replaced by a smaller window in the 15th century. Also within the church is a medieval font and within the surrounding graveyard is a plain high cross. The Benedictine Priory of St. Taurin and St. Feichín Sometimes called Fore Abbey, this is one of only a small number of Benedictine Priories in Ireland. It was founded between 1180 and 1186 by Hugh de Lacy, and was a daughter house of the monastery of St. Taurin at Évreux in Normandy, France. Over the years many of the priors and monks who served here were originally from France. However, in 1448 an act of parliament broke the links with the French mother house and Fore became an independent priory. The priory was eventually suppressed in 1539. The narrow church of the priory was built in the 13th century and features a three-light window at the east end. In the 15th century a four-storey residential tower was added at the west end of the church. Another tower was also constructed over the sacristy. To the south of the church is the cloister, around which are arranged buildings such as the kitchen, refectory, chapter room and dormitories. Near the priory and built into the side of the hill known as Knocknamonaster are the remains of a circular dovecot or columbarium. Other monuments Overlooking St. Feichín’s Church is a building known as the Anchorite’s Cell. This consists of a 19th century mausoleum of the Grenville-Nugent family. However, the tower attached to the mausoleum is 15th century in date, so the site must be earlier. Between St. Feichín’s Church and the Benedictine Priory are two holy wells (Tobernacogany and Doaghfeighin) and the remains of what appears to be a medieval water mill. In the 13th century a small borough or town was established at Fore. By the 15th century the town was essentially an Anglo-Norman colony in the midst of Gaelic controlled lands. During this time Fore was repeatedly attacked and as a result the population constructed the two defensive gates that survive today. The present village is a remnant of the medieval town, and within the village are the remains of St Mary’s medieval parish church and several stone wayside crosses that are believed to date to the 17th century. Please note that many of these monuments may be on private land and may not be publicly accessible.