Ecclesiastical enclosure in Ower (clare By.)

On a rise in level grassland close to the td. boundary. Reputedly the site of St Fursey's 7th-C monastery (Harbison 1975, 94). A Nat. Mon., the remains consist of a multiperiod church (GA041-0454----) on NW boundary of an irregularly shaped graveyard which is defined by a modern wall. Part of W gable, with trabeate doorway, and W end of S wall of an E. Chr. oratory are incorporated into a late medieval church (E-W; L 21.6m, Wth 7.38m). The main features of the latter comprise a shallow pointed arch doorway in S wall, to E of which are two twin-light windows, one with a round head, the other an ogee head. The twin-light pointed arch traceried window set off-centre in E gable evidently replaced an earlier one, the S jamb of which is visible internally. There are also two small windows in S wall to W of the doorway: the lower one is a simple slit above which is a single-light ogee-headed example. Internally, the church is divided by a N-S running wall to W of doorway. These latter features, when coupled with the small ope high up in W gable, indicate that there was a loft at this end. There are aumbries in E gable and at E end of S wall. Traces of an older wall, beneath the present curving W wall of the graveyard (GA041-045001-), may be part of a possible early ecclesiastical enclosure (GA041-045002-). (Kinahan 1868b, 131-2; O'Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 171, 177; Killanin and Duignan 1967, 304) 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: 20 December 2017

A likely early-medieval ecclesiastical enclosure associated with St Fursey's 7th-century monastery, situated on a rise near the townland boundary; it is now a National Monument with multiperiod remains including a church on its northwest side. Local tradition links the site to early Christian activity and monastic foundations.