This charming village straddling the Mayo-Galway border holds far more significance than its scenic beauty suggests, having served as the setting for a major Hollywood production.

Despite its modest size, Cong has achieved considerable renown as the location where a 1952 cinematic classic featuring American legend John Wayne was shot.

The Quiet Man was both staged and captured on film in this village, which continues to celebrate its cinematic heritage through guided tours of filming sites and a purpose-built museum.

The Quiet Man Museum functions as a faithful recreation of the beloved White O’Morn cottage featured in the picture.

Additionally, a sculpture depicting the two principal stars has been erected in the village centre, honouring the production that transformed this small settlement into a pilgrimage site for cinema enthusiasts.

The film’s connection to the locale and its portrayal of Irish traditions contributed to its tremendous commercial performance during the 1950s, cementing its status as a timeless work.

Director John Ford subsequently claimed the Academy Award for Best Director at the Oscars in recognition of the picture’s acclaimed debut.

Following a museum visit, one visitor posted on TripAdvisor: “Excellent walking tour of The Quiet Man village with a knowledgeable, experienced, and humorous guide.

“We learned a lot about the filming and the villagers that were involved in its production. Now we have to go back and watch the film again to see all the scenes from an enlarged perspective.”

Another visitor shared: “Amazing! Lots of little anecdotes about the filming from a very knowledgeable and charismatic guide, some very poignant singing as well, be prepared. As a huge fan of the Duke, this was a bit of a pilgrimage for me and didn’t disappoint! Highly recommend.”

Beyond this, the village’s appeal also stems from its quaint cottages and additional historical landmarks, including the Royal Abbey of Cong. Founded in its current form during the 12th century on the location of an earlier seventh-century monastic community, visitors now enter from the village through an impressive Romanesque doorway.

The striking features of the substantial church remains, measuring 42.6 metres in length, comprise three enormous windows on the eastern wall and tombstone-paved flooring. A section of the site has served as a burial ground, with the oldest headstone dating back to AD 1709.

One rvisitor said: “Sadly now a ruin, the Abbey at Cong is hauntingly beautiful. It’s fun to imagine it when it was a functional building. The grounds are not to be missed especially the fishermen cottage.”

Meanwhile, another added: “The Royal Abbey of Cong is one of the more extensive ruins that we visited in Ireland to which one had complete access.

“The ruin is pretty extensive, and, while roofless, there are a lot of walls, stairs, arches, and even some large fragments of the cloister arcade. The ruins are pretty haunting, even on the stunning June day on which we visited.”