When considering Lavagh as a place to stay in a holiday rental, you can weigh up two main attractions: church and local history in the townland, and the landscape around nearby Knocknashee. Court Abbey and Mullinabreena Church offer tangible historical landmarks; at the hill, the focus is on views, archaeological traces and an uphill path. Nace O’Dowd Park adds a circuit, while the Knocknashee Community Hub offers a meeting place, café and event venue.
Churches and local history
Court Abbey, the ruins of a 15th- and 16th-century church, lies in the townland of Lavagh. Mullinabreena Church, also called the Church of the Sacred Heart, represents another chapter in the area’s church history. It opened on 9 November 1884 and has been the parish church of Achonry ever since. Court Abbey is a ruin from a much earlier period; Mullinabreena’s history includes its precise opening date and its continuing role as a parish church.
The Church of the Sacred Heart contains a remarkable collection of stained-glass windows, memorial inscriptions and religious artworks. Together, these reflect more than a century of parish history. The double name helps with orientation: Mullinabreena Church and the Church of the Sacred Heart refer to the same church, not two different destinations. This allows its historical role and the many traces of parish history to be considered together under one name.
Knocknashee: views and archaeological traces
Knocknashee, near Lavagh, is a 276-metre-high, flat-topped limestone hill. It offers sweeping views across Connacht. In clear weather, they extend south to Croagh Patrick, north to Benbulben and Knocknarea, and east towards Boyle. These directions give the panorama a clear sense of orientation; how far you can see depends on clear weather.
The hill also has a rich archaeological history: Knocknashee was once the site of a fortified Bronze Age settlement measuring 700 by 320 metres. Two ramparts built of limestone and earth, huts and two cairns are still visible. The large dimensions describe the former settlement; the ramparts, huts and cairns are the features visible today. The landscape and archaeological traces thus offer two different ways to appreciate the hill.
The Knocknashee Trail provides access to the open plateau at the summit. The path from the lower gate to the upper gate is 490 metres long, climbs steeply at first and includes steps on the steepest section. The distance and the path’s profile answer different planning questions: distance alone does not describe the climb. Check the trail conditions on site before planning your hike.
Circuit and meeting place
Nace O’Dowd Park in Lavagh has a 480-metre circuit for walking and running called the Connacht Gold Track. It was completed in 2018. Check the track’s current public access before your visit.
The circuit and the path from the lower to the upper gate at Knocknashee are similar in length: 480 metres compared with 490 metres. However, their routes differ: the Connacht Gold Track is a loop for walking and running, while the hill path climbs and includes steps on its steepest section. When choosing between the two, the route’s form matters as well as its length.
The Knocknashee Community Hub is a community project in Lavagh with a meeting place, café and event venue. The café is run by volunteers from the local community and welcomes visitors who want to enjoy the surrounding landscape and walking trails. If you plan to visit the café or use other Hub facilities, check their current availability before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Strandhill, Derrybeg, Derry, Geevagh, Inishcrone, Ballinphull, Curry, Ballaghnatrillick.
For the broader travel overview: County Sligo.
