Abbey (in Ruins) — Castlecarra

In pasture, with church (MA100-040001-) immediately NE. Known as 'Burriscarra Abbey'. Originally a house of Carmelite Friars when founded founded in 1298, probably by Adam de Staunton; abandoned sometime before 1383. In ruins by 1413 when it was handed over to the Augustinian friars of Ballinrobe. Later granted to Sir Henry Lynch whose family held it until the last century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 296-7). Conserved by OPW in 1962. Some parts of the church and the buildings to the N were constructed in the 15th century, when the present windows were inserted. The main church (6.6m N-S; 31.8m E-W) is aligned E-W, with the main door at the W end. Triple light, switchline tracery E window, only partly survives. String coursing on external and internal wall facings. The S wall has a piscina and an arched sedilia carried on single columns with capitals which are decorated, with hood moulding above. The sedilia originally terminated in carved heads (both broken). A later ogee headed window with hood moulding outside was inserted in the back of the sedilia. On the first floor of the S wall there are three large window embrasures, most of whose tracery is missing, and a much narrower window near the E corner. Near the W end of the S wall, two large arches provide access to a south aisle (3.3m N-S; 15.4m E-W), whose W wall is tied in with that of the main church and whose E window is well preserved. Its S wall has a restored piscina and two blocked up openings. The N wall of the church which still retains some plaster, has two doors at ground level and a window on first floor level near the W end. The larger of the two doors leads to the cloister garth, around which a number of buildings were neatly set. Around the cloister there are no clear buildings visible to the N. Along the E side there are four separate buildings all probably domestic, with features such as fireplaces, ogee windows, narrow-light windows, wall cupboards and corbels for flooring at a higher level. One of the buildings is still roofed with a vaulted ceiling. The larger building at the S end, is divided in two, and connects up with the N end of the church via a doorway. It contains two windows of different periods on its E wall, and elsewhere wall niches and a narrow rectangular window. Some string coursing is to be found on outer face of wall. The W side of the cloister has a later domestic building built against the church wall. Most features are on its W wall and include three ogee windows (one twin light, one single light), one narrow window and a fireplace, with a garderobe on the first floor. Its N wall has a main doorway, with a second door in its external corner, with the east wall providing access to the garderobe via steps. This is a National Monument in State care (No. 222). The above description has been derived from D. Lavelle (compiler), An Archaeological Survey of Ballinrobe and District including Lough Mask and Lough Carra. Lough Mask and Lough Carra Tourist Development Association (1994), No. 636. Date of upload: 24 January 2013