Abbey (in ruins) — Clonkeenkerrill

On a slight rise in undulating grassland; it stands within a modern rectilinear graveyard. According to local tradition, this is the site of an early church founded by St Kerrill (Topgr. Files, NMI). It was later occupied by a medieval parish church but this was converted, c. 1435, into a monastery for the Franciscan Third Order (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 246, 269-70). The standing remains consist of the fragmentary remains of a 'much-repaired' rectangular church with a S transept, in fair condition overall. Only E end of the church (E-W; L >11.9m, Wth 6.35m) survives, its walls bearing witness to much modern repair work. Until recently, E gable and S wall still stood to full height but the former fell in 1983. According to a description made in 1944 (Topgr. Files. NMI), it contained a 'fine lancet arched window'. A decorated twin-light cusped ogee-headed window with a hood moulding still survives towards E end of S wall: this is now blocked internally by an 18th-C memorial slab. Set into the stump of the fallen E gable is a finely carved 18th-C image of a bishop (Wakeman 1897, 71). The junction between the church and transept (L 8.95m, Wth 6.4m) is broken. The latter is dominated by a fine triple-light traceried window in S gable (Leask 1971, 123) and is also lit by two windows in E wall, both of similar design to that in the church. There is a square cross-base in the graveyard to SE of the church and a cross (GA072-015----) on roadside nearby. A field system (GA072-014004-) is also associated. (Nolan 1901b, 123) 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