Athassel Priory

Athassel Priory in Ireland is a little outside a small town called Golden and not so far from Tipperary. It dates back to the 12th century when it was founded by Augustinians. Many alterations were carried out over the next three hundred years which are still evident but it was dissolved in 1537 and then neglected by its owner and fell in to ruin. It is a National Monument of Ireland but has no commercial or managed side to it. The Priory is in the middel of a field, used for cattle, with no parking and access is over a stone wall and a grass path. In many ways this made it a more satisfying visit than some of the more commercialised attractions and, apart from the cattle, we pretty much had the place to our self almost as if we had stumbled across a forgotten ruin.