Bridge Hill. The Forge and Abbey Road:
The Celtic Ross Hotel stands at the junction of Coach Road (N71) and The
Abbey Road, in the Townland of English Island, (An tOileán Gallda). The
smallest townland in Rosscarbery Parish.
Coach Road was constructed in 1812 as part of the new mail coach road from
Cork to Skibbereen. Together with The Causeway, it is Irelands First Bypass.
The Abbey Road was a Famine Relief Road, constructed about 1847.
In the late 19 th century, a large two storey stone building known as “The Store”
stood where the Celtic Ross now is. It was at a “largely attended meeting” in
this building, on the 10 th November 1887, that Carbery Rangers GAA Club was
founded.
During the 20 th century, a forge stood on this site, until it closed in the 1950’s.
A Holy Well was located on the eastern side of the Abbey Graveyard. St
Cummin was in the habit of praying at the well, it seems that he wore no
boots, as he left the imprint of his toes and knees in a knoll or rock in front of
the well. For many years, it was visited by large numbers of pilgrims, on
Pattern Day, 24 th August. However, during the construction of Abbey Road, the
new road went through the location of the well, and today only a small well
exists, under a rock inside The Abbey Graveyard wall.
An ornamental horse trough is located in a niche in the Abbey Graveyard Wall.