Established in the mid-1400s and destroyed in the 16th century by Sir Richard Bingham, the English governor appointed to suppress rebellion in Connaught, Moyne Abbey is a picturesque ruin between Killala and Ballina. Parts of the exterior are relatively complete, although the roof is completely gone. The closer you get, the more of a ruin you realize it is. The tower looks quite well-preserved from a distance—until you look to the upper level, that is, where the whole structure appears as if it’s been snapped off by a giant hand. Moyne Abbey is a peaceful place, and looking through its moldering old windows, or over a misty carpet of green fields, you can fully understand why the monks chose this spot.