Kilmacduagh monastery

Part of the monastic complex at Kilmacduagh, this National Monument is located in low-lying grassland, flanked to the SW, W and NNE by marshy land, and close to the county boundary between Galway and Clare. It was built by the Augustinian Canons in the first half of the 13th century (Harbison 1975, 95) under the patronage of the O’Heynes (Fahey 1904, 227) and it replaced an earlier monastery (see GA128-034004-). The present remains show unmistakable evidence of restoration at different periods (Fahey 1904, 227). The main buildings are the nave (E-W; L 17.2m; Wth c. 6.8m) and chancel (L 5.8m; Wth c. 6.7m) church, with the sacristy and conventual buildings extending to the S, from the E end of the nave. The wall-footings immediately to the N of the nave indicate that the church was originally wider. The present wall was probably built following the collapse of this earlier wall in the 14th or 15th century (Harbison 1975, 95). Towards the W end of the wall, a foundation line (L 22m) running NNE-SSW is also evident. At its N end it turns eastwards (L c. 14m) before it becomes obscured by a later field wall and overgrowth. In this section the remains of an arched door/gateway survive. The main architectural features of the church include pointed arch doorways in the N and S walls of the nave, and columns with decorated capitals, which supported the now missing chancel arch. In the chancel, the E gable has a fine two-light round-headed window with hood- and roll-mouldings. Set in a deep embrasure in the S wall is a narrow round-headed window, also with a hood-moulding, and below it is a piscina. The sacristy is lit by a narrow rectangular window in the E wall; a round-arched doorway in the S wall gives access to a small vaulted chamber 'said to have been the Treasury' (Fahey 1904, 229). It too was lit by a rectangular window in the E wall. Adjoining this chamber to the S, but not accessible from it, is a larger room that was possibly the refectory or chapter room (ibid.). It was accessed by a doorway (now blocked up) in the W wall; there are two narrow round-headed windows in the E wall. To the S of this again is a partially destroyed two-storey building. A narrow rectangular doorway in the N wall at 1st-floor level probably accessed the dormitories. Narrow rectangular windows are visible at this level in the E wall. Most of the W wall and the entire S wall of this building are destroyed. (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 183)