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Knockmoy Abbey (Irish language: Mainistir Chnoc Muaidhe), also known as The Monastery of the Hill of Victory (Latin: Monasterium Collis Victoriæ); and as Porta Magna (English language: Great Door) and Teampollandorusmoir (English: The Chapel with the Big Door) after the dissolution of the monasteries, is a ruined Cistercians abbey located in Abbeyknockmoy, County Galway, Ireland. Founded in 1198, the abbey is known for its wall-paintings.
Knockmoy was first plundered in either 1202 or 1203 by William de Burgh, and it was subsequently raided several other times, the next occasion being in 1228.
On 24 May 1542, following the dissolution of the monasteries, Hugh O'Kelly, the abbot in commendam surrendered the abbey to Henry VIII.
The monastery's church consists of a nave, two Aisle, and a transept to the north and south, respectively. In each transept there are two Side chapel. The nave is notably wide, and the transepts narrow. The Lay brother of the abbey would worship in the nave, while the monks would worship in the chancel. On the southwest corner of the church is a sculpture of a king, possibly Ua Conchobair. Though the nose and chin have broken away, the eyes, hair, and crown survive. The chancel ceiling is Rib vault.
The ceiling of the sacristy is also vaulted, and Dormitory were located above both the chancel and sacristy. Projecting eastward, and with a door on the first floor connecting to the dormitories was the garderobe. The walls of this building are not bonded with the rest of the monastery, and it is likely of fourteenth century construction.
The Chapter house is also vaulted, and features a three-light window as well as two single-light windows. The three-light window is original, and features elaborately moulded Jamb—the two single-light windows are of later construction, and feature rubble-work jambs. Cross-wall were added to the chapter room, blocking two of the three lights in the three-light window. It is possible that the two smaller windows were added at this point. The cross-walls divide the chapter room into three sections.
South of the chapter room was the calefactory, or the day room of the monks. Here a fire would have been kept for the monks to warm themselves by.
A section at the south end of the church formed the refectory. In the eastern end of the refectories south wall is an opening wide, which would have featured steps leading up to a Pulpit. Next to the refectory, to the south east, is a section of the monastery the function of which is difficult to ascertain. The walls here are in very poor condition, and having been reshaped several times to serve as a fence, give no indication as to the original placement of the windows. This may possibly have been the novices' rooms.
To the west of the cloister were buildings two storeys tall, which housed the lay brothers of the monastery. The lay brothers had a separate entrance to the church than the monks.
Close by the abbey is a modern mill, supposedly built on the site of a mill once belonging to the abbey.
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