This interesting early Christian site is well worth a visit for its ruined churches and well preserved round tower. The monastery was founded in the 7^th Century by St. Colman MacDuagh under the patronage of Guaire, King of Connacht, although, except for the tower, most of the present buildings date from the 13^th - 14^th centuries.

This site was of such importance that it became the centre of a new diocese, the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, in the 12th century; it is now incorporated into the Diocese of Galway.The monastery, because of its wealth and importance, was plundered several times in the lawless years of the 13th century. The interesting stonework features scattered throughout the small churches are worth searching for; these are mostly inserts from the late 11th to the 15th centuries. The Reformation effectively brought the religious life of Kilmacduagh to a close. The tower is interesting, both as a fine example of this particularly Irish feature but also because of its noticeable lean: over half a metre from the vertical. The tower is over 30 metres tall , with the only doorway some 7 metres above ground level. The site affords a splendid view of the local area, and is the centre of interesting local legends and folklore.