Abbey in ruins — Abbeytown

Within a probable early ecclesiastical enclosure (GA042-001001-). According to Grattan-Flood (quoted in Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 204-5), this was a dependant house of the Premonstratensian abbey at Annaghdown (GA069-001001-), founded 'in 1260 ... on the site of an earlier Celtic mon[astery]' (see also Higgins and McHugh 1990, 2-7, 68-9). The visible remains comprise a long but poorly preserved rectangular building (E-W; L c. 28.4m, Wth c. 5.9m) which occupies N side of the modern rectangular graveyard. Only its E gable, a stretch of N wall and a fragment at SE corner survive to full height. Excavations by Higgins and Mc Hugh (ibid., 21-65) in the late 1980s identified 'four main phases' (ibid., 25) ranging from the 13th to 17th C. Remains of the original doorway, of 13th-C date, were located towards W end of N wall. This was replaced by a W doorway in the 15-16th C, when W gable appears to have been rebuilt (ibid., 37-40). The foundations of two 'buildings', probably of 17th-C date, were also uncovered about mid-point along N wall (ibid., 22-6). The larger, interpreted as 'a north transept' (N-S c. 7.3m, E-W c. 5.1m), was abutted on E side by a possible 'sacristy' (N-S c. 4.9m, E-W c. 3.5m). The existence of two small windows in the surviving fabric at SW corner (ibid., 26-7, 65) indicate that there was once two storeys at this end. There is a small rectangular single-light window, of 17th-C date, in the surviving section of N wall, and another set off-centre in E gable. Their positioning and the striking basal plinth of E gable suggest that in its latest phase(s), this may have been a secular building rather than a church. Traces of walls were also noted in SW part of the graveyard. The finds included a number of medieval querns and graveslabs. (Nolan 1901b, 123; O'Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 160) 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