Abbeylara

Infobox Irish Place
name = Abbeylara
gaeilge = Mainistir Leathrátha
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 80px; top: 50px
north coord = 53.7667 | west coord = 7.4500 | irish grid = N363797
area = | elevation = 82 m
province = Leinster
county = County Longford
population = | town pop = 245 | rural pop =
census yr = 2002
web = |

Abbeylara (irish place name|Mainistir Leathrátha|Abbey of the half rath or little rath) is a village in the easternmost portion of County Longford, Ireland, located about three kilometers east of Granard on the R369 regional road. Its name is derived from a monastery, the great Abbey of Lerha, founded in 1205 by Hiberno-Norman magnate, Risteárd de Tiúit, for Cistercian monks. The monastery was decommissioned in 1539, although its ruins are still apparent on approach to the village. An ancient earthenwork, the Duncla (Irish "Dún-chlaí" meaning "fortified ditch") or Black Pig's Dyke, which runs south-eastwards from Lough Gowna to Lough Kinale, goes through the larger parish of Abbeylara, and passes about one kilometre north of the village.

Because of its proximity to Lough Kinale and Lough Derragh, with a plentiful supply of trout, tench, bream and pike, Abbeylara attracts anglers and local angling clubs hold regular competitions.

On 20 April 2000, local man John Carthy was shot dead by the Gardaí (police) in a siege.

ee also

*List of towns in Ireland
*Barr Tribunal - Inquiry into the John Carthy siege and shooting of 2000

External links

* [http://www.longford.ie/abbeylara.html Abbeylara pages] on official County Longford site