Church

The National Monuments Service's description

In NE quadrant of an early ecclesiastical enclosure (GA044-047001-), it stands at extreme E end of the graveyard. This is the site of a Carmelite monastery founded in the 14th C 'by one of the de Burgos' (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 288). The visible remains comprise an ivy-grown rectangular church (E-W; L 16.5m, Wth 8m ext.), in fair condition, probably of medieval date. Apart from N wall which is almost completely gone, the others still stand close to full height. There is a flat-headed doorway with a bar-slot at W end of S wall. Traces of a window are also visible at mid-point in this wall and E gable contains a large window ope. There is also a small rectangular window high up in W gable, suggesting the former presence of a loft at this end of the building. The interior is dominated by three large burial vaults built against E gable and S wall. The largest, in the centre of S wall, is surmounted by two decorated heads.

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