churches historical galway

Situated 5km along the Gort-Corofin road is the important monastery and episcopal site of Kilmacduagh. This monastery was founded by Saint Colman Mac Duagh about 600 A.D. and a separate diocese based upon it was created in the 12th century.

The most conspicuous feature of the well-preserved round tower 33m high, with a narrow door 7m from the ground is the lean, almost 50cm from the perpendicular, which it shares with a more famous counterpart at Pisa. The extensive remains include a cat...

This friary was founded around 1351 by Sir Raymond de Burgo for the Franciscans. It is the most extensive and best preserved of the Franciscans friaries in Ireland. The church consists of a nave and chancel and has a double south transept with a later chapel added to it.

In 1470 the friars changed over to the Strict Observance. The community remained on intermittently in the friary until as late as 1753 although they no longer legally owned the buildings....

Pilgrim's Church; at the south-east corner of Gorumna Island is the church referred to as the - Pilgrim's Church - ....

An early stone church with flat-headed doorway, and a chancel which was added later. It is surrounded by the remains of a stone wall....

The Protestant church built in 1820 is a fine structure which contains a silver copy of the famous Cross of Cong, placed there in memory of the late Sir William Murphy.

The Catholic church built in 1830 stands on the site of the famous clochan, or beehive-shaped monastic stone hut from which the town takes its name....

Kylemore Abbey, founded on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, is the oldest of the Irish Benedictine Abbeys. The Benedictine Order, who have lived here since 1920, have a long history and were founded in Belgium in 1665. The nuns fled Belgium in WWI and took up home in the former castle in 1920.
The building itself was built between 1863 and 1868 for a Manchester politician by the name of Mitchell Henry. Both he and his wife are buried here. Important fearures of Kylemore Abbey include the...

It is believed that when the French family came to Doorus in the 17th century they brought with them several Franciscans from Galway who were lodged in a renovated portion of this very old church. At the east end stands the impressive tomb of the French and de Basterot families....

Situated 3km north-west of Kilmurvey, the miscalled - Seven Churches - mark an ancient site dedicated to Saint Breacan. The name is loosely applied to the remains of two small churches, Teampall Bhreacain and Teampaill an Phoill. Close to the churches, on the south-west, is Leaba an Spioraid Naoimh (bed of the Holy Spirit), a penitential station with fragments of a figured high cross. Nearby, to the south-east, is Leaba Bhreacain, another station.

To the north of Leaba an Spioraid Naoi...

Completed in 1819, this almost Spanish-looking church was built on land donated by James de Basterot of Duras....

Teallach Eanna situated slightly east of the village of Cinn Eanna (Killeany) is regarded as the holiest place on Aran, with, according to tradition, the graves of 1200 saints.

All that remains here is a small early church, and the shaft of a finely-carved high cross. A few yards to the north-west of the doorway is a leac or flagstone, which is said to cover the grave of Saint Eanna....