Cill Bheanáin | |
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(s) | Benignus of Armagh |
Architecture | |
Status | ruined |
Style | Celtic |
Site | |
Location | Pollacorragune, Tuam, County Galway |
Coordinates | 53°32′20″N 8°53′32″W / 53.538801°N 8.892219°W |
Visible remains | Church and round tower |
Public access | yes |
Official name | Kilbennen |
Reference no. | 48 |
Kilbennen or Kilbannon is a medieval ecclesiastical site and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.[1][2]
Kilbennen is located 3.7 km (2.3 mi) northwest of Tuam, on the far side of the River Clare.[3]
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.[citation needed]
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]