Perhaps not so widely known is that
bits and pieces of that history have been preserved and stand today as a monument to it.
One such artefact is the baptismal
font in the Presbyterian Church at Monkstown, which apparently came originally from the
old Abbey up at Knockagh. The history of the Abbey stretches back to the pre-Christian era
and its thought that the monks who belonged to it could just possibly have been Druidic.
Of course any information about the
Abbey is impossible to verify simply because it belonged to such an early era, but when
you look at old maps depicting the multitude of forts and abbeys in the area, the Abbey's
strategic location is very apparent.
Today a public right of way still
exists in the vicinity of the Abbey although all that's left are ruins covered in ivy and
a few headstones. That's sadly lamented by Monkstown librarian, Charlotte Bradley, who has
carried out extensive research on the history of the area.
"I really think it would be
worthwhile if the Department of the Environment would make some sort of restoration effort
to the old Abbey", she said.
"I know something of the like has
been done very successfully using ACE-workers on one in Cushendall and I see no reason why
they couldn't do the same thing here."
An interesting legend attached to the
Abbey is that King Fergus of Scotland is reputed to be buried there. The story goes that
the king suffered from leprosy and came here because he'd heard of a river, famous for its
medicinal properties.
Unfortunately the king never made it
to the river, for his ship was wrecked on a rock off the Irish coast supposedly giving
rise of Carrickfergus (the Irish for rock is "Carrig"
Monks from the Abbey found Fergus'
body on the beach and buried it in the grounds of the Abbey. Bones found at a later date
are thought to be those of Fergus. All this is supposed to have happened as early as 410
AD and stone lined graves in the area, then known as Ballynamanagh (town of the monks)
give strength to that early dating. Former
Minister of the Monkstown Presbyterian Church, Alec Crummie, told how the old Abbey's font
was found. "I remember it was discovered in the garden of one of the members of the
congregation-I think it was actually being used as a bird-bath".