the square tower

To one of his learned followers, St Finian, he gave one of his missals and made him the first Abbot. It was to help protect this Celtic monastic foundation from the ravages of the Norsemen that the ROUND TOWER was built in 800 A.D. Unfortunately, Swords suffered from so many attacks from Vikings between 1012 and 1166, that all the other monastic buildings were destroyed. To the North, nearest the Round Tower, is St. Finian's, a house incorporating the remains of the old 6th century Chapel of the first Abbot, St. Finian.

The Abbey was built on the site chosen by St. Columba in 550 A.D., "SORD" or "SURD" meaning clear or pure, is the old name of Swords, being derived from the waters of St. Columba as the site of a monastery.