Kilmacduagh monastery

Cathedral at Kilmacduagh, with round tower in background

Kilmacduagh Monastery is found 5 km from the town of Gort in County Galway, Ireland. It 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 (died 663 in Ireland) 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.

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 13th century.

Legends

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 that 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.

It is said that, in the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, no man will ever die from lightning. This legend was put to the test when one unlucky soul was struck, but the force of the bolt made him fly through the air into neighbouring County Clare, where he died.

See also

• Bishop of Kilmacduagh (Pre- and Post-Reformation)
• Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora (Roman Catholic)
• Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh (Church of Ireland)
• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Galway)

References

• A New History of Ireland, volume 9, pp. 330-331.

Annalistic references

• 814. Innreachtach, Bishop of Cill Mic Duach;

• 846. Colman, son of Donncothaigh, successor of Colman, of Cill Mic Duach, died.

• M1199.10. John de Courcy, with the English of Ulidia, and the son of Hugo De Lacy, with the English of Meath, marched to 'Kilmacduagh to assist Cathal Crovderg O'Conor. Cathal Carragh, accompanied by the Connacians, came, and gave them battle: and the English of Ulidia and Meath were defeated with such slaughter that, of their five battalions, only two survived; and these were pursued from the field of battle to Rindown on Lough Ree, in which place John was completely hemmed in. Many of his English were killed, and others were drowned; for they found no passage by which to escape, except by crossing the lake in boats.

External links

• O’Donovan, John (ed. and tr.). Annála Rioghachta Éireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the earliest period to the year 1616. Edited from MSS in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy and of Trinity College Dublin with a translation and copious notes. 7 vols. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin, 1848–51. Vol. 1 available from the Internet Archive. Available from CELT:
  • Vol. 1 (2242 BC – AD 902): edition and translation
  • Vol. 2 (AD 903–1171): edition and translation
  • Vol. 3 (AD 1172–1372): edition and translation
  • Vol. 4 (AD 1373–1500): edition and translation
  • Vol. 5 (AD 1501–1588): edition and translation
  • Vol. 6 (AD 1589–1616): edition and translation
• Cotton, Henry (1850). The Province of Connaught. Fasti ecclesiae Hiberniae: The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland. Volume 4. Dublin: Hodges and Smith. pp. 197–215. http://www.archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaehi04cottuoft.  (Note: The website incorrectly calls the book "The history of the popes, from the close of the Middle Ages", but when downloaded or read online it is volume 4.)