Athenry Priory

Athenry Priory is a Dominican monastery in County Galway that survives today as a roofless ruin with stone walls standing near the medieval town. The building displays typical church features including lancet windows, a nave, chancel, and transept, all visible within the preserved masonry.

Meyler de Bermingham founded the priory in 1241 as Saints Peter and Paul with backing from Anglo-Norman and Irish nobility. The construction took place during a period when religious communities like this became important centers for local trade and learning.

The priory displays a blend of Anglo-Norman and Gaelic artistic traditions in its carved tomb niches and stonework. Visitors can observe these mixed influences directly in the surviving monuments and architectural details throughout the grounds.

The site lies roughly 25 kilometers east of Galway city and is easily reached for a day visit. Access is generally open and allows visitors plenty of time to walk around the ruins and examine the carved stones and grave markers at their own pace.

The graveyard contains a rare monument made from Coade stone, an artificial material used in the 1700s for memorial markers. This monument was created for Lady Mathilda Bermingham and dates from 1788, offering a glimpse into burial practices of that era.

Location: County Galway

Inception: 1241

GPS coordinates: 53.29825,-8.74456

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:28