| Kilbennen | |||||||||
| Other Names: | Kilbannon; Kilbennan; Cell-beneoin; Dun Lughaid | ||||||||
| Native Name: | Cill Bheanáin | ||||||||
| Native Name Lang: | ga | ||||||||
| Order: | Franciscans (15th century) | ||||||||
| Founder: | Benignus of Armagh | ||||||||
| Established: | late 5th century AD | ||||||||
| Disestablished: | 15th/16th century | ||||||||
| Diocese: | Tuam | ||||||||
| Status: | ruined | ||||||||
| Style: | Celtic | ||||||||
| Location: | Pollacorragune, Tuam, County Galway | ||||||||
| Coordinates: | 53.5388°N -8.8922°W | ||||||||
| Map Type: | Ireland | ||||||||
| Public Access: | yes | ||||||||
| Remains: | Church and round tower | ||||||||
| Embedded: |
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Kilbennen or Kilbannon is a medieval ecclesiastical site and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.[1] [2]
Kilbennen is located 3.7km (02.3miles) 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.
The limestone round tower is badly damaged and stands 16.5m (54.1feet) tall at its highest point and 4.8m (15.7feet) in diameter. It has a sandstone doorway 4.56m (14.96feet) 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]