Abbey (in Ruins) — Collooney

In the centre of a former lumber yard surrounded by recent walls and structures; at the W end of a small graveyard, between two 19th-century warehouses. A ruined rectangular structure (16m E-W; 6m N-S) built of uncoursed limestone blocks. The N and S walls are very poorly preserved and the SW corner is missing. A window embrasure, in the centre of the E wall, survives as a rough opening (Wth c. 1.5m); a drawing by Wakeman (O'Rorke [1889], vol. 2, 344) shows it with a double-ogee light missing its mullion. This window indicates a 15th/16th-century date for the church, which was, according to tradition, built by the O'Haras (O'Rorke 1878, 102-4). It was converted to Protestant use 'soon after the Reformation' but finally abandoned early in the 18th century (ibid.). There are a number of 18th- and 19th-century grave-memorials in the interior, some of which are listed by O'Rorke (1878, 102-4). There is no known historical record of a monastic foundation here (see Gwynn and Hadcock 1970). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008