FRIARY OF ROSS ERRILLY

We stumbled on this little gem accidentally while driving a loop around Lough Corrib via Galway. Most of our itinerary was pre-scouted via Google Maps and other websites. I am very appreciative of those that have went before us and shared images so you at least have some idea of what to expect when you arrive. This is nice from not only a sightseeing perspective, but also a photographer perspective. I do enjoy a complete blind surprise such as this as well.

We saw the structure from the main road and wasted no time making our way toward it. This marvelous ruin is in near to the County Galway and County Mayo line near Headford. You need only wonder a wee bit from the friary to reach the banks of the Black River.

This site is touted as the most popular tourist attraction in the area. When we arrived we had the entire place to ourselves. While we were getting our cameras situated a local man came walking down the road and provided us with a wonder historical account of friary. He spoke of an unusual feature inside – a water tank to hold live fish from river until eaten.

The Ross Errilly Friary (Irish: Mainistir Ros Oirialaigh, often anglicised in 18th & 19th century sources as Rosserelly) is a medieval Franciscan friary located about a mile to the northwest of Headford, County Galway, Ireland. It is a National Monument of Ireland and among the best-preserved medieval monastic sites in the country. Though usually referred to by locals as “Ross Abbey,” this is not technically correct as the community never had an abbot.

The church and bell tower are to the south of a small but well preserved central cloister and domestic buildings are to the north. Amongst these are a kitchen (equipped with an oven and a water tank for live fish), a bake house, and a refectory or dining area. The dormitories are on the upper levels. One unusual feature is a second courtyard or cloister, built to accommodate the friary’s growing population. -Wikipedia

We spent a lot of time here; it is very easy to do. There is much to look at and lots to explore. The surrounding countryside is quite picturesque as well. It is easy to image the monks living here and farming the land.