Kilbennan, Galway

I Location

Site Location
Kilbennan
National Grid Reference
11M 41 55
County
Galway
Dedication
not confirmed
Type of building/monument
Church (ruin) and round tower

II General Description

Round tower general view.

Round tower general view.

Early Christian site with round tower with plain round-headed doorway and ruined church of later date. One piece of Romanesque carved stone is preserved at the site.

VI Loose Sculpture

(i) Voussoir

Loose voussoir, W wall of church.

Loose voussoir, W wall of church.

Loose voussoir, W wall of church, detail.

Loose voussoir, W wall of church, detail.

A voussoir, from the soffit of an arch. Located on sill of W window .

The voussoir is carved with angle rolls flanking a lozenge containing a rosette on the soffit. No trace of decoration on faces of voussoir.

Dimensions

approx. h. 0.28 m
approx. w. 0.25 m
approx. d. 0.20 m
w of soffit c. 0.28 m

VII History

The foundation of the monastery is attributed to St Benen or Benignus, a 5thc. saint. The annals record the burning of the settlement in 1114.

VIII Comments/Opinions

This voussoir is the only remaining trace of a Romanesque building that must once have occupied the site. Rosettes within lozenges are also found at Annaghdown (Galway), Killaloe Cathedral and Tomgraney (Clare).

IX Bibliography

  • Barrow, L., The Round Towers of Ireland, Dublin, 1979, 97.
  • Kelly, R.J., ‘Notes on the Round Tower of Kilbannon’ JRSAI, 31, 1901, 379-81.