 Kilmacduagh Monastery was the birthplace of the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, whose name means "church of Duagh's son." The 7th Century Saint Colman, son of Duagh, established a monastery on land given him by his cousin King Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin of Connacht.
The monastery contains a round tower, notable as both fine example of this particularly Irish feature but also because of its noticeable lean, over half a metre from the vertical. The tower is over 30 metres tall, with the only doorway some 7 metres above ground level. The monastic site contains a number of churches, which date from the 13th and 14th Centuries. The largest church building on the site is the Cathedral, also known as Templemore Mac Duagh, which stands near the round tower. Other buildings on the site are the Church of St. John the Baptist (Teampuill Owen), he O'Heynes Church, Our Lady's Church or Temple Mary (Tempal Muire), the Glebe House, thought to be the Abbot living quarters.
The round tower, one of the tallest in Ireland, has a noticeable lean: over half a metre from the vertical. The tower is almost 112 feet tall with the only doorway about 26 feet above ground level. The walls are over six feet thick at the base. The tower once had a bell which was said to have been thrown into a nearby lake.
This site was of such importance that it became the centre of a new diocese, the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, in the 12th Century. The monastery, because of its wealth and importance, was plundered several times in the 13th Century.
About Kilmacduagh (Cill Mhic Dhuach)
Wikipedia: Kilmacduagh Monastery
www.roundtowers.org: Kilmacduagh Round Tower
Wikipedia: Irish Round Towers
Wikipedia: Colman mac Duagh (Saint Colman mac Duagh)
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Colman
Journey to Kilmacduagh (Cill Mhic Dhuach)
Kilmacduagh Churches and Round Tower are located off the R460 approximately 4-1/2 miles from the town of Gort in south County Galway, Ireland.
Map Reference: M405000
Visitors Information
Visitors information may be found at the geograph.ie website. General tourist information may be found at the Ireland Midwest Online website.
Additional Photos of Kilmacduagh (Cill Mhic Dhuach)
Roadsign for Kilmacduagh
Descriptive Sign at Kilmacduagh
Cathedral and Round Tower at Kilmacduagh
Round Tower with Cathedral (right) at Kilmacduagh
Cathedral (Templemore Mac Duagh) at Kilmacduagh
Interior of Cathedral at Kilmacduagh
Interior of Cathedral at Kilmacduagh
Kilmacduagh Round Tower Entrance
Church of St. John the Baptist (Teampuill Owen) at Kilmacduagh
Church of St. John the Baptist (Teampuill Owen) at Kilmacduagh
Our Lady's Church (Temple Mary) at Kilmacduagh
O'Heynes Church at Kilmacduagh
O'Heynes Church Windows at Kilmacduagh
Glebe House (Abbot's Residence) at Kilmacduagh
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