Kilmacduagh Monastery & Round Tower

Majestic 7th century monastic site in Gort

About 4kms southwest of Gort is the site of an old monastic settlement, Kilmacduagh. The Diocese of Kilmacduagh, whose name means “church of Duagh’s son”. The 7th century saint, Saint Colman, son of Duagh, established a monastery on land given him by his cousin King Guaire. According to legend, Saint Colman MacDuagh was walking through the woods of the Burren when his girdle fell to the ground. Taking this as a sign, he built his monastery on this spot. The girdle was said to be studded with gems and was held by the O’Shaughnessys centuries later, along with St. Colman’s crozier, or staff. The girdle was later lost, but the crozier came to be held by the O’Heynes and may now be seen in the National Museum of Ireland.

Tour Kilmacduagh Monastery

A step back in time

This interesting early Christian site is well worth a visit not only for its ruined churches and well preserved round tower, but also the site affords a splendid view of the local area, and is the centre of interesting local legends and folklore.

The tower is interesting, both as a 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.

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This site was of such importance that it became the centre of a new diocese, the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, in the 12th century; it is now incorporated into the Diocese of Galway. The monastery, because of its wealth and importance, was plundered several times in the lawless years of the 13th century. The interesting stonework features scattered throughout the small churches are worth searching for; these are mostly inserts from the late 11th to the 15th centuries. The Reformation effectively brought the religious life of Kilmacduagh to a close.

View Kilmacduagh Monastery

Kilmacduagh Monastery Map