Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In open low-lying farmland on W edge of an extensive bog. Probably the site of a small medieval monastery, either Franciscan or Dominican (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 233, 279; Knox 1902a, 401; 1903, 293; Neary 1914, 124-5, no. 98). It consists of a poorly preserved subcircular enclosure (E-W >88m), the E half of which is cut across by a boreen running roughly N-S. To E of the boreen, a curving scarp (H 0.7m) defines the enclosure from N to E. A curving depression (Wth 8m) at S and the short arc of a bank at W may indicate its continuation to W of the boreen. No definite trace of the 'segment of the old cashel wall or bank' noted by Neary (ibid., 124) '70 yards [64m] N.W.' of the church was found, though there is a straight stretch of a substantial bank (Wth 4m) 45m to W. The church (GA017-121001-) itself lies in W part of the interior. The OS Letters (O'Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 103-4) refer to this site as a small graveyard but no visible surface trace of such now survives. However, Neary (ibid.) mentions that 'Bones were dug up in quantities on N. side' of the church.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. II - North Galway'. Compiled by Olive Alcock, Kathy de hÓra and Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999).

Date of upload: 05 August 2010