Antiquities
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Antiquitied in Killala parish, from Irish Tourist Association Survey, 1943
There are numerous antiqiuities described in this section of the Killala survey. They are as follows:
- Moyne Abbey (Convent of Moyne):- Built in 1460 on land granted by Tomás Óg de Burgo to the Observantine Order of St. Francis. Confiscated by the English and granted to Edmund Barrett in 1595. Passed successively to Sir William Tentor, Richard Boyle, first Earl of Cork and the Lindsay family. Said to have been built on the site of an earlier foundation of St. Mucna or Muicin.
- St. Patrick's Cathedral, Killala:- supposedly built on site of church originally built by St. Patrick around 440. Exact date is difficult to determine. It was seized by Protestants during the Reformation.
- Killala Round Tower:- The tower was severely damaged by lightning in the eighteenth century. Repaired by bishop Verschayle around 100 years before the survey.
- Rathfran Abbey:- formerly known as Rath Brandaibh. The monastery was founded by the Dominicans in 1274. It was closed during the dissolution of the monasteries.
- Souterrains:- This section contains descriptions of souterrains in the churchyard of Killala Cathedral, at Acres about a quarter of a mile from there and at Summerhill, near Rathfran.
- Pillar stone at Breastagh around five miles from Killala. There is an Ogham inscription on the stone and the surveyor quotes a possible translation of this. However, a note added subsequently states that this translation is not reliable.
- Druid circles:- There are several collections of large stones in the neighbourhood of Rathfran Abbey. Also two circles at Breastagh.
- Carn Amhalgaidh:- This was the place of assembly of Amhalgaidh, King of Hy Fiachra. Located at the top of Mullaghcarn
- St. Patrick's church, Kilroe:- There is a reference in the "Life of St. Patrick" to the "Church of Kilroe Mór in the country of Amalgadia". It is in a very ruinous state.
- Crosspatrick - St. Patrick's Church:- Located in a graveyard about one and a half miles from Killala. Just a small portion of the walls remain of this church said to have been built by St. Patrick. The "Tripartite Life of St. Patrick" quotes a legend associatred with Crosspatrick.
The headings for the survey are listed below. Clicking on the heading will open the relevant section in the survey.
Amenities and general information