1990:057 - ROSSHILL ABBEY, Kilbeg Lower, Galway

The early foundation at Rosshill Abbey, situated on the southern shore of Lough Mask, is attributed to Saint Brendan. The sub-circular cashel encloses c. 2.4 hectares. A cross-inscribed pillar and a graveslab also date from the Early Christian period. The ruined church measures internally 19.36m x 4.85m. It has a lintelled west doorway with inclined jambs but is mainly a re-building with additions, probably dating from its later use as a parish church. Burial is still taking place at the site.

A conservation project was in progress at the site. The purpose of the excavation was to remove accumulated soil and stone rubble inside and to the south of the church in order to provide a level ground surface. The excavation was carried out over a two week period in March and April 1990.

Beneath the rebuilt external face of the south church wall, excavation revealed an earlier wall course on a foundation plinth extending from the south-west corner for 5.6m. The construction date could not be determined from the archaeological evidence, but this may have belonged to the early church. The masonry, of mortared unhewn limestone, was up to 0.8m in size.

A portion of the east and west walls of a small building was uncovered abutting the exterior face of the south church wall approximately mid-way along its length. The mortared walls, c. 0.8m wide, of coursed rubble limestone were exposed for 2.4m in length and 0.15m to 0.8m in height. This late extension post-dated the south wall of the church, and measured 4.3m internally from east to west.

The most interesting find from the excavation was a portion of a medieval baptismal font in limestone. The two remaining fragments were afterwards discovered lying in the graveyard. A considerable quantity of clay pipes of late 19th- and early 20th-century date, some modern crockery and glass bottle fragments, were also found.

Templemartin, Craughwell, Co. Galway