Monks' Fishing House on the River Cong

The house on the Cong River was once used by the monks for fishing. There is a hole in the bottom through which the net was lowered and where it got stuck. When enough fish were caught in the net, a bell tied to the net with a string rang and the cook came down from the monastery to the river to collect the fish. Pretty imaginative!

Incidentally, the small bridge behind the abbey also gives free access to the grounds of Ashford Castle.

Wikipedia (Cong Abbey, 2023-12-24):
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cong_Abbey
“… The grounds of the abbey also contain a monks' fishing house, probably built in the 15th or 16th century, on an island in the River Cong leading towards nearby Lough Corrib. …”

At the bridge, look not only at the fisherman's house but also at the water under the bridge.
The Cong is known for its salmon run and with a bit of luck you can see a salmon "in one piece" in its natural state and not just in the frozen section as a fillet. But you can almost always find brown trout there. Access to Asford Castle along the river path was only possible up to the meadow in front of the hotel (as of June 2023). There was now a gatehouse with security guards. Then you can't go any further!
The path along the river is worth every meter.