Ros Cam | |
 | |
  Location within County Galway | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ros-chaim; Ros-camm |
| Established | 5th century AD |
| Diocese | Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora |
| Architecture | |
| Status | ruined |
| Style | Celtic |
| Site | |
| Location | Roscam,Galway |
| Coordinates | 53°15′52″N8°59′06″W / 53.264423°N 8.984974°W /53.264423; -8.984974 |
| Visible remains | Church,bullauns andround tower |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | Roscam |
| Reference no. | 46 |
Roscam is a medieval ecclesiastical site andNational Monument located inGalway,Ireland.[1][2]
Roscam is located 4 km (2.5 mi) east of the Galway city centre, immediately north of Oranmore Bay.[3] It is just to the south of the Galway neighbourhood of Roscam, which takes its name from the site.
Roscam stands on the site of a very early (5th century) monastery, with legend linking it toSaint Patrick.[4] It was also associated with Odran, a brother ofCiarán of Clonmacnoise (6th century). The 6th-century Saint Aedus (Aidus) transferred the bones ofBrión mac Echach Muigmedóin to Roscam.[5] It was attacked byVikings in AD 807.[6]
Theround tower is dated to the 11th century and appears to have never been completed.[7] The ruined tower once marked the limit ofO'Halloran (Ó hAllmhuráin, Clann Fhearghaile) territory.[8][9]
The church was built in the 15th century.[citation needed]
Roscam is said to have been used as aduelling site in the medieval era; at the time, it was well outside of what was then the city ofGalway and was easily accessible by boat.[10]
There is a limestoneround tower (11 m (36 ft) tall),[11][12]bullauns and a church 22 m (72 ft) in length. The whole site is surrounded by a largeenclosure.[13]