Church

The National Monuments Service's description

On a slight rise within an irregularly shaped graveyard (GA099-114002-). Marked on 1st ed. of OS 6-inch map as a rectangular roofed building, aligned E-W, with a small S projection at W end. However, OS Letters (O'Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 646-7) record that 'the old church of Cill Allachtain is now level with the ground'. What survives is a grass-covered mound of earth and stone (E-W 6.9m, N-S 6m, H 1.5m) crowned with a clump of ash trees. A number of architectural fragments, including a chamfered window mullion, lie adjacent. According to local tradition, a mother and child sheltered beneath a tree growing from this mound during famine times. The mother died but the child survived by sucking the tree roots. A holy well (GA099-113----) lies 235m to NE and a number of banks (GA099-114003-) are visible around 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).

Date of upload: 05 August 2010