Le déanaí chuaigh rang Staire an Chabháin ar cuairt chuig an Mhainistir Dhearg i mbun staidéar ar an mhainistir mheánaoiseach. Is í an mhainistir seo ceann de na foirgnimh is sine sa chathair. Tógadh í tar éis do na hAngla-Normannaigh cuireadh a thabhairt do na hAgaistínigh teacht go hÉirinn. Bhí na daltaí ag foghlaim faoi na hoird reiligiúnda éagsúla cosúil leis na hAgaistínigh, faoi na foirgnimh éagsúla a bhain leis na mainistreacha agus faoi ghnáthlá an mhanaigh mheánaoisigh. Tógadh An Mhainistir Dhearg idir 1270 A.D. agus 1288 A.D. – díreach an tréimhse ama a bhí á chlúdú againn sa rang. Níl ach clogtheach fágtha den Mhainistir Dhearg inniu ach bhíomar in ann rian chuid de na foirgnimh a bhí ann sna meánaoiseanna a fheiscint ar an talamh mar shampla an teach caibidle, suanlios, proinnteach agus clabhstra.

Recently An Cabhán visited Red Abbey as part of their study of medieval monasteries. Red Abbey is one of the oldest surviving structures in Cork city. The Augustinians were invited to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans (who we had previously studied in class) and founded Red Abbey between 1270 A.D. and 1288 A.D. Students in first year learn about the various medieval religious orders, the layout and structure of monasteries as well as the daily life and timetable of a medieval monk. All that is left of Red Abbey today is the central bell tower however in Medieval times Red Abbey included a church, chapter room, refectory, a dormitory and cloisters and we could see the outlines of these buildings on the Red Abbey plaza.