Abstract
A ‘D2’ age of intrusion for the Connemara gabbros is rejected. The gabbros were intruded 490 Ma ago, probably just prior to the D3 deformation and, together with younger members of the Metagabbro and Gneiss complex, were responsible for a widespread sillimanite-grade contact metamorphism which overprinted the regional ‘D2’ gamet-staurolite ± kyanite metamorphism and the major D3 folds. Comparison with the NE Scotland gabbros is thereby strengthened, supporting the idea that they were both part of a coeval magmatic arc developed at the margin of the Caledonian fold belt.