Roscam
Roscam is a medieval ecclesiastical site and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.[1][2]
Ros Cam | |
Location within Ireland | |
Monastery information | |
---|---|
Other names | Ros-chaim; Ros-camm |
Established | 5th century AD |
Diocese | Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora |
Architecture | |
Status | ruined |
Style | Celtic |
Site | |
Location | Roscam, Oranmore, County Galway |
Coordinates | 53.264423°N 8.984974°W |
Visible remains | Church, bullauns and round tower |
Public access | yes |
National Monument of Ireland | |
Official name | Roscam Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site |
Reference no. | 46 |
History
Roscam stands on the site of a very early (5th century) monastery, with legend linking it to Saint Patrick.[4] It was also associated with Odran, a brother of Ciarán of Clonmacnoise (6th century). The 6th-century Saint Aedus (Aidus) transferred the bones of Brión mac Echach Muigmedóin to Roscam.[5] It was attacked by Vikings in AD 807.[6]
The round tower is dated to the 11th century and appears to have never been completed.[7] The ruined tower once marked the limit of O'Halloran (Ó hAllmhuráin, Clann Fhearghaile) territory.[8][9]
The church was built in the 15th century.
Roscam is said to have been used as a duelling site in the medieval era; it is well outside Galway city and is easily accessible by boat.[10]
Ruins and monuments
There is a limestone round tower (11 m (36 ft) tall),[11][12] bullauns and a church 22 m (72 ft) in length. The whole site is surrounded by a large enclosure.[13]
References
- Spellissy, Sean (1 January 1999). The history of Galway. Celtic Bookshop. ISBN 9780953468331 – via Google Books.
- O'Keeffe, Tadhg (26 March 2018). Ireland's Round Towers: Buildings, Rituals and Landscapes of the Early Irish Church. Tempus. ISBN 9780752425719 – via Google Books.
- "Roscam Abbey Church, County Galway, Ireland". placesmap.net.
- "Roscam graveyard, Roscam, Galway, Ireland - The on-line graves and graveyards finder". historicgraves.com.
- Byrne, Vincent (1 September 2003). The Hidden Annals: A Thousand Years of the Kingdom of Connaught 366-1385. Universal-Publishers. ISBN 9781581125689 – via Google Books.
- Sawyer, Peter (2001). The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings. ISBN 9780192854346.
- Hourihane, Colum (26 March 2018). From Ireland Coming: Irish Art from the Early Christian to the Late Gothic Period and Its European Context. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691088259 – via Google Books.
- O'Laughlin, Michael C. (26 March 1998). The Families of County Galway, Ireland: Over One Thousand Entries from the Archives of the Irish Genealogical Foundation. Irish Roots Cafe. ISBN 9780940134003 – via Google Books.
- O'Dowd, Peadar (5 October 2004). A History of County Galway: A comprehensive study of Galway's history, culture and people. Gill & Macmillan Ltd. ISBN 9780717165438 – via Google Books.
- "Roscam Round Tower and Chuch [sic], Co. Galway". 10 May 2015.
- Lalor, Brian (26 March 1999). The Irish Round Tower: Origins and Architecture Explored. Collins Press. ISBN 9781898256649 – via Google Books.
- "Roscam Round Tower, Galway".
- "Roscam Church, Galway".