The Legend of the Wicked Monk
by Craig McGuire

In the year of our Lord 730, Annier Mac Conglinne was desperate to escape his past. A former monk in Southern Ireland, Mac Conglinne's terms of dismissal involved the deflowering of a young maiden; a rather unwilling and extremely young lass. Only fate availed a midnight escape in which Mac Conglinne escaped with but a bible in his left hand, and a brat in his right.

The sun stole across the fading late autumn Munster sky as Mac Conglinne stumbled to the steps of an ancient monastery in Corcach Mor Mumhan at Gillabbey. Although a holistic life was but a few months behind him, Mac Conglinne's face wore a lifetime of excess - his body's texture weathered and tattered like an old worn cloke.

Upon fleeing the monastery, Mac Conglinne had thrown himself into a state of extreme intoxication, debauchery and thievery. Once adherent to the holy doctrines of piety and celibacy, Mac Conglinne now counted highwaymen, drunks and whores among his closest acquaintances.

The monks at Gillabbey were an especially pious lot, preferring an ascetic and rustic existence. Needless to say, Mac Conglinne considered their hospitality beneath his standards and abused their generosity vigorously.

Mac Conglinne, a self-proclaimed poet, wrote a bitter satire about his treatment which he presented to the abbot.

Behind was a wine well, Beer and bragget in streams,
Each full poor to the taste, Malt in full wavy sea,
Over a lard springs brink, Flowed through the door

Angered at the reproach, the abbot ordered his monks to hurl the ungrateful Mac Conglinne into the muddy waters of the River Lee and then locked in a room for the night. The following morning, Mac Conglinne was taken to a green area near the monastery and lashed to a pillar stone.

On the first morn of his captivity, the abbot demanded an apology from Mac Conglinne, but was met with insults and curses. Over the next several days Mac Conglinne degenerated into a ranting and raving beast.

On the morn of the seventh day, the abbot was astonished when in place of this wild animal he saw a well groomed and apparently restored Mac Conglinne.

According to his own account, Mac Conglinne claims at midnight a deity visited him and told him how he could remedy the King of Munster, Cathal Mac Finguine, of a grievous disorder.

The abbot was puzzled. He was aware the king was visiting Cork at the time, but was unaware of his affliction. Ironically, at around the exact same time of Mac Conglinne's midnight revelation, the king was afflicted by the demon of Gluttony.

Mac Conglinne was released from his bonds and escorted to Cork to perform his healing mission. He persuaded the king to fast for two days and a night. While the king slept, the Annier had him bound tightly with ropes. When he awoke all sorts of tempting food and drink were placed before him. Mac Conglinne then put each piece of food to the king's lips before burning them in a huge fire.

Eventually the king's sin jumped out of his mouth, fixed its two claws on the meat, then darted into the fire, whereupon it was consumed.

The grateful king awarded Mac Conglinne an estate and a sizable fortune. However, his fraternity with dark spirits caused him to be beaten and cast out of every town and village he encountered. In subsequent years, he squandered his fortune and died a miserable lonely death. Though he did not pass before causing the misfortune and heartache of countless others.

The wicked transformation of Mac Conglinne at the Green Mount was not the only abnormality to occur at that dark site.

800-850: The Green Mount was the site of several horrible battles between the plundering Viking raiders and monks of the monastery that fought side by side with the natives. Only the heroic efforts of Gilla Hugh - a warrior abbot known as the Patriot Monk - allowed them to prevail, but at a terrible cost to lives.
1766 - Sept 16: Two fifteen year olds, William Stackpole and Tim O'Sullivan, were hanged from the neck until dead, for robbery.
1733 - Sept: Mary Smith and Mary O'Sullivan were burned at the stake for the murder of a local butcher during a fight between rival factions.
1766 - Sept 10: A tailor by the name of Patrick Redmond was hanged at the Green Mount for robbery. A friend managed to cut him down and restore his circulation. The sight of a restored and thoroughly soused Redmond was simply too much for many weak-hearted residents of the area.
1994: Relics and building materials used in the Green Mount monastery were transported to Bay Ridge, where they were incorporated into the construction of the WICKED MONK IRISH PUB. However, more than limestone and stained glass crossed the Atlantic.

Some say Annier Mac Conglinne, Cathat Mac Finguine, Gilla Hugh, William Stackpole, Tim O'Sullivan, Mary Smith, Patrick Redmond and many others, made the trip also.