Indicated — Roscam

On a S-facing slope in pastureland on the NE shore of Galway Bay, commanding panoramic views across the bay to the S and the Burren uplands to the SW. This early ecclesiastical settlement is associated with St Odran, a brother of St Ciarán of Clonmacnoise (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 402).The ecclesiastical enclosure (N-S 200m, E-W 190m), defined by a massive drystone wall (av. H 1.5m; Wth c. 2m), is roughly D-shaped in plan and is very well preserved. Most of the enclosing wall has been raised over the years by the addition of field-clearance rubble on top of it. At E a modern entrance is possibly on the site of the original one. A collapsed triangular-headed sheep-gap was noted to the S of it in 1984 (SMR file). The following features are located within the interior: a round tower (GA094-072004-), a church (GA094-072001-), a separate graveyard (GA094-072003-) within which are an early Christian cross-slab (GA094-072012-), a possible leacht (GA094-072013-), a holed stone (GA094-072007-), two multiple bullauns (GA094-072008- and GA094-072009-) and medieval graveslabs (GA094-072005-, GA094-072006- and GA094-072011-). The bullauns were regarded locally as holy wells (Fahey 1901a, 229) but were marked on OS 6-inch maps as 'Penitential Station'. Numerous architectural fragments (GA094-071014-) are scattered throughout the graveyard, including a number of bowtell mouldings, possibly from a window or doorway, suggesting that there may have been another church located within it. Another early Christian cross-slab GA094-072015-) was recorded by Higgins (1992, 209-12). (Frazer 1896, 162; Athy 1914, 163-4; Harbison 1975, 99) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Updated by: Olive Alcock Date of revised upload: 19 May 2017