Tynan Abbey

Coordinates: 54°19′52″N 6°49′23″W / 54.331°N 6.823°W / 54.331; -6.823

Tynan Abbey in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, was a large neo-gothic-romantic country house built c. 1750 (later renovated c. 1815) and situated outside the village of Tynan. It was home to the Stronge family until 1981, when it was bombed; its ruins were demolished in 1998, having stood for 249 years.

History

The house on this site that replaced the original 13th-century abbey was called Fairview and was the home of the Manson family, it was acquired by the Stronges through the marriage of Dr. John Stronge and Elinor Manson. At this time Fairview was described by Thomas Ashe as a "very pretty house, well timbered and regularly built. It is two stories high. There are good chambers and garrets above staires, a hansome parlour, a common Hall, a Kitchen Sellars and their Convenient Offices a Good Stable Barne and Cow house a Good Garden and Orchard". The library, in which the last of the Stronges were killed, was believed to have dated to this original house.

Tynan

Coordinates: 54°19′48″N 6°49′22″W / 54.33007°N 6.822644°W / 54.33007; -6.822644

Tynan (from Irish: Tuíneán, meaning "watercourse") is a village, townland (of 375 acres) and civil parish in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is situated largely in the historic barony of Tiranny, with some areas in the barony of Armagh. It had a population of 71 people (35 households) in the 2011 Census. (2001 Census: 71 people)

History

Tynan won the status as the most well preserved rural Irish village in 1993.

The Troubles

Places of interest

Tynan Abbey has an extensive demesne, a country house belonging to the Stronge family was situated here until it was destroyed by the Provisional IRA in 1981. The ruins have since been demolished. The grounds hold an extensive cemetery with grave stones going back centuries and others worn beyond recognition.

Tynan has a High cross in the village's church yard, dating from 700–900. It shows a carving of Adam and Eve under an apple tree.

Transport

Tynan was formerly served by mainline trains of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and was also the eastern terminus of the narrow gauge Clogher Valley Railway (which opened in 1887 and closed in 1941). Tynan railway station (on the Clogher Valley railway opened on 2 May 1887 and shut 1 January 1942. Tynan and Caledon railway station on the mainline opened on 25 May 1858 and shut on 1 October 1957.