Teampall Bheanáin
On the ridge that commands the sea approach to Kilronan from the south-east stands one of the smallest churches in Ireland, roofless, with unusually high, squared gables. Teampall Bheanáin is eleventh century and has stood unchanged for a thousand years. It marks the site of the monastery founded by Benen, a disciple of St Patrick, and it survived because it was never really a church.
Checked against the source on 2026-09-19.
Cadbytim, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Teampall Bheanáin, Caisleán Uí Bhriain, Dun Arann Signal Tower on the 3D model; tap a pin for its page and directions.
A shrine, not a church
The building could never hold a congregation. It is reasonably taken to be the tomb-shrine of the saint, and that is what saved it: when Cromwell's soldiers fortified the coast they took the stones of the round tower and the medieval monastery next to it for their fort, now ruined nearby, and left the oratory alone. It is a unique example of early Irish church building.
Getting up to it
The oratory is a walk from Kilronan through Cill Éinne, and from the ridge the view covers the harbour and the approach from Galway Bay. The model on this page pins it with the O'Brien castle and the forts of the island; the Inishmore guide covers the rest.
Questions people ask
How old is Teampall Bheanáin?
Who was Benen?
Written from Wikipedia, "Teampall Bheanáin" (CC BY-SA 4.0), read on 2026-09-19, and from the OpenStreetMap places on the model. Nothing has been added from memory; follow the source for its footnotes.