Templetown

After having a lovely evening at the pub on site at the manor house, we awoke and had a splendid Irish breakfast and then popped into the car to head out to the Hook Peninsula.  We saw lots of things along the way!

This was a church and graveyard that we saw as we drove to the Hook Lighthouse.  We were intrigued because it was close to the road and the sea and it was fairly well intact.

The sign posted at the ruin said it was Templetown and gave the following information:  "The Knights Templars  were founded by the Crusaders in Jerusalem, early in the twelfth century.  In 1172, King Henry II granted extensive lands to the Templars along the eastern shore of Waterford Harbour.  They set up their headquarters here at Templetown, which is named after them, and at nearby Kilcloggan.  The Templars were disbanded in 1307 and their lands were given to their great rivals, the Knights Hospitallers who built the fortified church at Templetown and the castle at Kilcloggan."

In 1307 the Knights Templar were essentially arrested and imprisoned and charged with various things, though most likely they were trumped up charges designed to disband them and divide up their wealth and prevent them from becoming too powerful. 

It looked like you could go inside the tower and possibly climb the steps, but it was dark and scary and too close to Halloween for that!  Also, it was probably not safe. 

I love how they keep the ruins but also make use of the land for cows and sheep.  Almost every ruin is in a pasture!