We left Athlone fairly early in the morning so that we could get to the Cliffs of Moher before it got too packed. It was due to be a two hour drive, so we expected to arrive late morning.
Our friends had set a challenge for us to see at least 12 castles while in Ireland, matching our total from when we visited Scotland and England together a couple of years ago.
On our way to the Cliffs we spotted one – Cloghan Castle. Apparently this can be used as a wedding venue and is currently for sale for about $1 million.
About 20 minutes farther down the road, we spotted a tall tower off to the right. We turned in that direction thinking that it might be another castle, but we were even more lucky than that.
It turned out that we’d happened upon Kilmacduagh Monastery, a ruined abbey dating back to the 7th century. Although the remaining buildings aren’t quite that old, some are still thought to be at least 1,000 years old.
We visited Glendalough monastic site in Co. Wicklow later in our trip which was very similar to Kilmacduagh Monastery. Glendalough was extremely busy with bus tours and other tourists as it’s only an hour outside of Dublin. Kilmacduagh on the other hand was incredibly peaceful as, other than a couple of other people, we were the only ones there.
Our luck continued as a bus full of German tourists arrived just as we were leaving. Although they were quiet and wouldn’t have disturbed the peaceful atmosphere, it would’ve made it harder to get some good photographs.
The site consists of six main buildings:
The Cathedral
The cathedral is an impressive building that’s located within the graveyard. It’s thought that the current stone structure replaced a wooden cathedral back in the 11th century.
The Round Tower
This was the tower we’d seen from the road that helped us discover Kilmacduagh Monastery and it was my favorite building at the monastery.
It was used as a refuge for monks seeking safety in the event of an attack. To help protect them, the entrance is located more than 20 feet from the ground. They therefore would have used a ladder that could be pulled up once safely inside.
The tower is more than 100 feet tall and leans about 2-3 feet to the side. Estimates have placed its date of construction between 900-1100 A.D.
Temple Mary
On the other side of the road from the other buildings is Temple Mary, also known as The Church of Mary or The Lady’s Church.
This church is believed to have been built in the 1200s.
Church Of St John The Baptist
This church is thought to be the oldest of all the buildings, dating back to the 10th or 11th century.
The Glebe House
Looking like a small castle, The Glebe House was built in the 1300s and is believed to have been the home of the abbots.
O’Heynes Church
Built in the early 1200s, O’Heynes Church has a carved arch over where the altar would have been.
Graveyard
As mentioned above, The Cathedral at Kilmacduagh Monastery is surrounded by a graveyard.
What’s even more interesting is that some of the buildings have several burial plots inside them.
A Few Other Photos
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning a trip to the Cliffs of Moher, we can highly recommend taking a detour via Kilmacduagh Monastery. It’s only an hour away and the experience is worth the trip.
If you want to explore even more than we did, it’s possible to get a key to get inside one of the buildings. There’s a sign in the parking lot advising that it only costs €5 and can be obtained from a house the other side of the road.
Ireland Road Trip
Here’s everything else that we got up to in Ireland:
- Introduction: Non-Surprise Ireland Road Trip
- 24 Hours In Athlone, Ireland: Where To Stay, Eat, Drink, Shop & Visit
- Luck Of The Irish At Kilmacduagh Monastery
- Returning To The Cliffs Of Moher
- Quin Abbey In 30 Photos
- Feasting Like Royalty At The Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet
- Day 3: Desmond, Dingle, Dolphin, Driving And Dining
- Puckering Up At Blarney Castle
- Day 4: Kissing Stones, Flat Tires, Stunning Food & Tiny Homes
- 4 Friends + 1 Tiny Home = 1 Fun Night In Ireland
- Breakfast Serendipity At The Conservatory, Laragh
- Glendalough Monastic Site In 25 Photos
- Shot Through The Heart At The Irish Whiskey Museum
- Dublin’s Best Breakfast At Stage Door Cafe
- What To Do (And What Not To Do) In Dublin, Ireland
- Travelling With The Peppers: Saga Holiday Adventures
- Don’t Make These 10 Mistakes When Visiting Ireland
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