Church (in ruins) — Kilmeen

On the summit of a low hill in grassland. According to Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 394), this is the site of an early monastery. The remains of a round tower (GA106-103005-) survive in the surrounding graveyard (GA106-103003-). On inspection in April 1983 the rectangular church (18.6m E-W; 7.7m N-S) was very poorly preserved. A possible internal dividing wall formed a small annexe (7.15m N-S; 5.9m E-W) at its E end. This was probably the 'apartment' noted in the OS Letters (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 1, 492-3). The internal wall was the best preserved wall; only short sections of the N and S side-walls extending off it survived. Grassed-over foundations indicated the line of the W gable, the W end of the N wall and the outer E gable. A large amount of collapse marked the E end of the latter wall. The only surviving architectural feature was a single-light rectangular window which was centrally placed in the internal wall, indicating that the annexe was a later addition and that the internal wall was probably the original E gable. Numerous architectural fragments, many bearing Romanesque ornament, were scattered around the graveyard. On re-inspection in July 2011, it was noted that the window in the internal wall had collapsed. An earthfast piece of worked granite (Wth 0.36m; H 0.34m; T 0.27m), roughly square in plan, noted at the SE corner of the church may possibly be an unfinished font or pedestal. A settlement cluster (GA106-103002-) surrounds the monument. Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG Date of upload: 10 March 2020