Abbey in ruins

On high ground, in Kilmaine village. Ruins surrounded by graveyard (MA121-030002-). Said to have been founded by St. Patrick (Knox 1908, 49); later mentioned in Papal suit in 1216. The place suffered greatly in the wars of 1225-30 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 393). Very little now remains of the abbey with several phases of building; ruins appear to represent S end of cloister arcade. Wall (L 19.4m E-W) contains two round arched openings with wicker work centering evident; one at E end leads to two-storey room (8.7m N-S; 6.6m E-W) with SE and SW corner battered externally. Ground floor contains twin ogee headed window on E wall, with well-defined twin light transitional window on S wall; traces of ground-floor vaulted ceiling, 1st-floor contains window on S wall. The above description has been derived from D. Lavelle (compiler), An Archaeological Survey of Ballinrobe and District including Lough Mask and Lough Carra. Lough Mask and Lough Carra Tourist Development Association (1994), No. 641. Date of upload: 6 May 2014

The abbey at Kilmaine was founded in the 5th century and is traditionally attributed to St. Patrick; it later became a significant monastic site, mentioned in a Papal suit in 1216. The ruins, located on high ground within the village, are surrounded by a graveyard and reflect early Christian ecclesiastical architecture, though their exact style is not well documented.