Church

The National Monuments Service's description

On a terrace on N slopes of Knockacarrigeen; it stands within a small rectilinear graveyard (GA043-114002-) close to td. boundary with Carrowntemple. Noting the latter name, and the site name, the OS Letters (O'Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 126) suggest that there was 'an old church' here which 'probably occupied the spot on which the present R.C. chapel stands'. The visible remains are those of this now ruined rectangular church (E-W; L 20m, Wth 7.8m) which has a separate sacristy at E end. The flat-headed doorway, surmounted by a false arch, is at W end of N wall. There are three pointed windows in N wall, a similar window in S wall and an alcove centrally placed in W gable. Four corbels visible in side-walls at W end of the church indicate the former presence of a loft here. A cross crowns E gable. On the line of W wall a foundation course runs northwards for c. 3m. Well-cut stones are visible at ground level but do not rise above the surface. It is possible that they are related to the earlier church noted in the OS Letters. A sink hole (GA043-114004-), named 'Pollaturk', lies immediately S of the graveyard.

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). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Updated by: Olive Alcock

Date of revised upload: 8 August 2016