# Cong

> Cong sits on an isthmus between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask and lies partly in Mayo and partly in Galway.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/cong-village/

A small village between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, with the ruins of Cong Abbey and woodland walks along the river. It is also known as the setting of a classic film, so pair a stroll with a stop at the village's cafes.

Cong sits on an isthmus between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask and lies partly in Mayo and partly in Galway. The ruins of the medieval Cong Abbey recall that Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (Rory O’Connor), the last High King of Ireland, spent his final years here; the famous Cross of Cong comes from the abbey and is now in the National Museum in Dublin. Nearby Ashford Castle was extended in the 19th century under the Guinness family into a Victorian castle and is now a hotel.

The village became famous through John Ford’s film “The Quiet Man” (1952) with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, which was partly filmed in the grounds of Ashford Castle. You can also see the Cong Canal, the “Dry Canal”, built between 1848 and 1854: it was never completed and carries varying amounts of water depending on the season, at times almost none. Allow half a day for the abbey, walks and the village. If you arrive by motorhome, come early in the day to find a parking space.

- **Nearest town:** Cong, Ireland
- **Category:** History & culture
- **GPS:** 53.5410, -9.2860

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

**Getting there:**

- **Ireland: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels.** Drive on the left. Barrier-free toll on the M50 around Dublin. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Cong, County Mayo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cong,_County_Mayo)

## Nearby

- [Galway Latin Quarter](https://camping-spirit.com/places/galway-latin-quarter/) – 34 km
- [Croagh Patrick](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-croagh-patrick/) – 35 km
- [Doo Lough Valley](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-doo-lough/) – 35 km
- [Kylemore Abbey](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b6-kylemore-abbey/) – 40 km

## FAQs

### Where is Cong?

Cong is in Cong, Ireland, at GPS 53.5410, -9.2860. It is about 13 km from Oughterard.

### Can you camp near Cong?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Cong Caravan & Camping Park, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 2 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Cong?

Places worth a stop nearby: Galway Latin Quarter (34 km), Croagh Patrick (35 km), Doo Lough Valley (35 km) and Kylemore Abbey (40 km).

### When is the best time to visit Cong?

No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)