Kilbennen
Medieval monastic site in County Galway, Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kilbennen or Kilbannon is a medieval ecclesiastical site and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.[1][2]
Cill Bheanáin | |
| |
  Location within Ireland | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Kilbannon; Kilbennan; Cell-beneoin; Dun Lughaid |
| Order | Franciscans (15th century) |
| Established | late 5th century AD |
| Disestablished | 15th/16th century |
| Diocese | Tuam |
| People | |
| Founder | Benignus of Armagh |
| Architecture | |
| Status | ruined |
| Style | Celtic |
| Site | |
| Location | Pollacorragune, Tuam, County Galway |
| Coordinates | 53.538801°N 8.892219°W |
| Visible remains | Church and round tower |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | Kilbennen |
| Reference no. | 48 |
Location
Kilbennen is located 3.7 km (2.3 mi) northwest of Tuam, on the far side of the River Clare.[3]
History
The monastery here was founded by Benignus of Armagh (Benin, Benen, Bennan), a disciple of Saint Patrick,[4] in the 5th century AD, although the Book of Armagh associates it with a different Benignus, of the Luighne Connacht[5]. Iarlaithe mac Loga. (Saint Jarlath) studied here in the 6th century.[6]. The Annals of the Four Masters record the burning of Kilbennen in 1114.[7] In 1148 they record the death of Ceallach Ua Domhnagain, "noble head of Cill-Beneoin."[8]. The Franciscans built a church c. 1428.[9]. Some conservation work was done in 1880–81. The church is surrounded by a wall and a graveyard, where some ancient crosses and slabs can be seen.
Ruins and monuments
The limestone round tower is badly damaged and stands 16.5 m (54 ft) tall at its highest point and 4.8 m (16 ft) in diameter. It has a sandstone doorway 4.56 m (15.0 ft) off the ground.[10]. Both gables are standing on the church. The east gable had a twin-light cusped ogee-headed window.[11]. A holy well is located to the northwest, where Bennin is said to have healed nine lepers.[12]