Round Towers of Ireland

Round Towers

The round towers usually had several wooden floors and to reach the top, people had to climb a series of ladders from one floor to the next. One of the most accessible round towers that is wholly intact, with ladders for ascending to the top, is beside St Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny city. Round towers were topped off with a conical roof. In all cases entrances to round towers were raised well above ground level and could only be reached by ladder. This essential protective device was useful, especially during Viking times, when parts of the east and south coast were overrun with Viking invaders.

Altogether over 100 round towers were built in most parts of Ireland, and unfortunately nearly 60 survive to the present day. They are grouped mainly in Dublin and Leinster, in the midlands and the south, while Northern Ireland has some too.

We present some ideas for very short (one-day) ‘Round Tower Tours’:

The Midlands

Begin this tour in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Roscrea is an exceptionally interesting town, not least for the 18th-century Damer House. It also has St Cronan’s Church, which stands on the site of a monastery founded in the early 7th century. Near the ruins and very accessible from the main N7 road is the round tower. It was built in the 8th century and stands just 18 metres (60 ft) high. The conical cap came off in the 12 century and the top 6 meters (20 ft) was knocked off in the fighting of 1798.

From Roscrea, drive north for 45km (27 miles) through Birr to the medieval ecclesiastical site of Clonmacnois, one of the most important in Ireland. The monastery here, overlooking the River Shannon, was founded by St Kieran in AD545. The round tower forms a striking part of the collection of buildings. It may have been built in the 10th century and although it has lost its conical cap, it is otherwise in well-preserved condition.

Two sites are well worth visiting for their round towers and they can be easily visited in a day

At Ardmore in west Waterford, the round tower stands 29 metres (95 ft) high, has four storeys and a cap. The corbels that mark each storey are carved with human and other representations. In recent years, the round tower has been restored, so that once again, it’s in perfect condition. Not only is it one of the best round towers anywhere in Ireland, but its setting on the heights above Ardmore village, overlooking the bay, it truly magnificent.

From Ardmore, drive 45km (27 miles) along the N25, through Youghal and Midleton, to Cloyne, a small village close to the eastern shores of Cork harbour. The cathedral here dates from the 14th century and close by is the Cloyne round tower, which dates from the 10th century and stands 30 metres (100 ft) high. It can be climbed by visitors.

Undoubtedly the best preserved round tower in the North is in Antrim town, 20km (12 miles) north-east of Belfast. This round tower stands among the trees in Steeple Park; it dates back to around AD900 and is all that is left of an ancient monastery founded in the 6th century and abandoned in the 12th century. The round tower itself has been well preserved and the conical cap has been replaced; it is 27 metres (90 ft) high.

From Antrim, drive 60km (37 miles) north, through Ballymena, to the village of Armoy. It is a very attractively set village, on the River Bush and close to Ballycastle forest. The round tower here is only partially preserved, standing just 11 metres (35 ft) tall.

Northern Ireland is the least populated part of Ireland in terms of round towers, with only seven in all. One of the best known is at Devinish Island in Fermanagh’s lakeland, which is 26 metres (85 ft) high. It is in a very complete state, has finely built masonry and, unusually for any Irish round tower, has sculptured ornaments.