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On W bank of the River Suck in the centre of Ballinasloe town, the site lies close to an ancient ford and bridging point (GA088-047----). There is a strong local tradition (Egan 1960, 161) that the present RC church (GA088-028001-), built 1852-7 to replace an earlier chapel (GA088-028002-), occupies the site of 'Dún Leodha'. According to the Annals, the latter was built in 1124 by Toirdhealbhach O'Connor, King of Connacht (quoted in Hardiman 1846, 31). Writing in 1837, O'Donovan states that 'parts of its ramparts may still be traced … within and without the enclosure … [of] the R.C. Chapel' (quoted in Egan 1960, 161). Working from oral sources, O'Donovan also relates that, prior to the construction of the chapel, c. 1807, it 'presented the appearance of a truncated cone' and that 'many oak coffins were found' when levelling it (Alcock et. al. 1999, 256).
Revised by: Olive Alcock
Date of revised upload: 9 July 2021
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