[5] 'Cromwell certainly visited Loragh, for tradition records him to have committed many sacrilegious acts in the English church-yards; as a proof of which, the remains of Broken crosses are still to be seen; tradition also tells us that the abbey bell was, at the same time, transferred to a neighbouring gentleman's house for security, where its silver tongue was exchanged for one of baser metal.

That the abbey was taken possession of and burned, is likewise probable, as the east end, before it became overgrown with ivy, showed several marks of fire.

The present Portumna bridge dates from 1911 [7] (opening section replaced October 2008 [8]) Lorrha has a rich ecclesiastical history evidenced by the ruins and active religious buildings within the village.

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Ruadhan (c. 1912),[9] At the south of the village are the remains of a Dominican Friary founded in the 13th century by Walter de Burgh, Earl of Ulster.

over most of them are partly flat arches, badly executed, but yet capable of supporting a weight which, perhaps the graceful ones beneath would not be sufficient to bear up.

At the left hand, just as you enter the abbey, by the last mentioned doorway, is a niche in the wall where will a short time ago, there was to be seen a wooden effigy of St. Ruaden, or Ruan, the founder.

[14] Water for the monastic settlement was supplied from St. Ruadhan's well located south of the road that passes the present Church of Ireland cemetery.

At the north side, and within a few paces of the abbey, is a ruinous old building, so much overgrown with ivy, that there is scarcely any part of the walls perceptible.