The abbey site features an east-facing, cruciform church (minus a south transept) with a 24-metre (80 ft) bell tower.

In return for this favour, the monks were asked to present a rose to de Cogan and his descendants on the Nativity of John the Baptist.

[citation needed] The friary was renovated in the 15th century, at which point the tower and the chancel's east window were added.

[citation needed] On 11 July 1538, forces under the command of Lord Leonard Gray ransacked and looted the abbey while marching to Galway.

For some years after the monastery closed, members of the Galway friary continued to travel to the site on feast days to celebrate Mass and hear confession, but these activities had ceased by 1860.

In 1892, a Lord Clanmorris donated the property to the Commissioner of Public Works under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments Act of 1882.