Abbey (in ruins) — Baile Chláir

In flat farmland on the N bank of the River Clare; it was associated with the medieval borough of Claregalway (GA070-107----). This Franciscan friary was already in existence c. 1252 and probably built by 'John de Cogan I' (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 245-6). The well-preserved standing remains, now a National Monument, consist of a nave and chancel church (E-W; L c. 43m, Wth c. 6.7m) of 13th-15th- date with a later N aisle, tower and N transept, probably additions of 15th-C date. The W gable, now fallen but still extant in 1792, contained a pointed arch doorway with a traceried window above (Cochrane 1901, 332). The N aisle of the nave was separated from it by four pointed arches. Six clearstorey windows are visible in the S wall below which are three tomb-niches; a piscina is visible at its E end. The tower is of three storeys. The transept was used as an RC chapel until the 19th C and was still roofed c. 1900. The chancel is lit by six pairs of 13th-C lancet windows in opposing side walls and by a large 15th-C traceried window in the E gable. The latter replaced an original triple-lancet E window, the sills and jambs of which are still partly visible (ibid., 324-5). The S wall of the chancel is graced by a piscina, aumbry and sedilia and the N wall by a canopied tomb niche (GA070-035008-) of the de Burgos. Immediately to the S of the church lies the cloister garth and substantial sections of the domestic ranges, the fabric of the latter showing much evidence of alterations. Further S are the remains of the 'garderobes' and a watermill (GA070-035027-)(ibid., 332). The graveyard (GA070-035002-) is interesting for the several tombstones bearing occupational symbols. (Mooney 1956, passim; Harbison 1975, 88; see also http://monastic.ie/tour/claregalway-franciscan-friary/#1 for details of survey carried out by Monastic Ireland, last accessed 17 July 2018) 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). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Updated by: Olive Alcock Date of revised upload: 17 July 2018 This monument was taken into Guardianship under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 - National Monument 165.