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Mayo - 5
Aughagower

Site/Artefact Aughagower Type Monastic Site Site Number SMR Mayo 088 06301 National Grid Reference 103460 East 280380 North Map ( 1:50000) Ordnance Survey Ireland, Discovery Series, 31 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here

Aghagower Abbey (after Richard Bullimore) Sheela-na-gig at Aghagower (Photo: Christiaan Corlett)   Below: Round Tower at Aghagower (Photo: Christiaan Corlett)

Description
The church at Aughagower is mentioned as early as 700 AD by St Patrick's biographer, Tírechán. It was reputedly founded by St Senach in the seventh century. The name arrives from the gaelic, Achaidh fobhair meaning 'field of the spring' (Corlett, 2000). Nearby are Tober na nDeachaun translated as 'well of the deacons' and Dabhach Phádraig, 'Patrick's bath'. Inset into the wall of Dabhach Phádraig is a sheela-na-gig, a medieval symbol which would have been placed in a very accessible part of the church walls (Corlett, 2000). This small explicit carving of a female showing her genitalia is a medieval symbol which has primitive roots.

The pilgrim road from Ballintubber passes this church site on its way to the mountain. The only trace of the early church is the remnants of the west door which was incorporated into the later building. West of the church is the remains of a much damaged and repaired round tower with a base diameter of 5m and reaching a height of almost 16m. The tower has suffered the ravages of fire as the evidence from around the doorway indicates; evidence perhaps of the unreliability of these freestanding constructions as places of safe refuge (Lalor, 1999).

Excavation Details
Not Available

Access/Ownership
Public

References

• Corlett, C. 2001 Antiquities of West Mayo, Wordwell, Wicklow, Pp. 66, 116-118
• Lalor, B. 1999, The Irish Round Tower, Origins and Architecture Explored, Cork, Pp.187-9 

Check out the following sections of the website for related information:

• Tóchar Phádraig

Mayo Sites and Artefacts

1. Mayo Abbey 2. Balla 3. Ballintubber Abbey 4. Tóchar Phadraig 5. Aghagower 6. Lankhill 7. Boheh 8. Croagh Patrick Summit 9. Carrownalurgan 10. Ardoley 11. Kiladangan 12. Glaspatrick 13. Shrawee 14. Clare Island - Strake 15. Clare Island - Lecarrow 16. Caher Island 17. Durless

18. Carrowmore 19. Knappaghmanagh 20. Cushalogurt 21. Carrowkeel Ecclesiastical Remains 22. Thornhill 23. Carrowkeel Murrisk 24. Carrowkeel Cahernaran 25. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-1 26. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-2 27. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-3 28. Carrowmacloughlin/ Glencally/ Teevenacroaghy 29. Carrowmacloughlin Sweathouses 30. Glaspatrick Holy Well

31. Glaspatrick Rath-1 32. Glaspatrick Early Ecclesiastical Remains 33. Glaspatrick Ringfort 34. Glaspatrick Rath-2 35. Glaspatrick Ecclesiatical Remains 36. Glaspatrick Altar 38. Glaspatrick Graveyard 39. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-1 40. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-2 41. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-3 42. Teevenacroaghy

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