towers historical ireland

Scattery Churches and Round Tower The island of Scattery is just off the small port of Kilrush. The monastery on the island was founded in the 6th century by St. Senan, who like, St. Kevin of Glendalough, had a notorious dislike of women! One of his pupils was St. Ciaran of Clonmacnois. It was attacked and looted by the Vikings in 816 and 835 and it is thought the Vikings occupied the monastery from 972 to 975, but were captured by Brian Boru. The most distinguishing characteristic o...

The ruins of Kilmacduagh Monastic Settlement lie close to the border of counties Galway and Clare, on the eastern fringes of the Burren. because it is somewhat off the beaten track, it tends to be rather unjustly overlooked as one of the most interesting examples of early monastic architecture in the west of Ireland.

The monastery's most notable feature is the 11th/12th century Round Tower measuring 111ft to the tip of its cap. The tower is unusual in that it tilts, like its more famou...

Three storey Helen's Tower built in about 1858, prominent on a hilltop at the far end, was erected in honour of Helen, Lady Dufferin, grand daughter of Sheridan and composer of the popular ballad The Irish Emigrant. In 1915 and 1916, the 36th Division was camped at Clandeboye and drilled in sight of this romantic tower. A das replica, called the Ulster Memorial Tower, was later erected on the Somme battlefield at Thiepval where nearly 6, 000 Ulstermen were killed or injured in July 1916. Helen's...

St Declan founded Ireland's earliest Christian settlement in Ardmore in 416 A.D. before the arrival of St Patrick. The 12th Century Round Tower, is 29m high and is the best example of an Irish Round Tower. The carvings on the West Gable of the Cathedral are special to Ardmore and depict Biblical scenes, as well as scenes from the early Christianisation of Ardmore. Nearby are St Declan's Grave (Beannachan). Ogham Stones, St. Declan's Stone and St. Declan's Well (Hermitage). The Round Tower...

On a hill, 3 miles across the valley, and twice as tall as Helen's Tower, Scrabo Tower was built at about the same time in memory of the third Marquis of Londonderry. It has 122 steps up to a good view of Strangford Lough and beyond (open in summer). Part of it was lived in until about 1970. There is a golf course round the tower, with bluebell woods on the south side....

A 40 foot mote, originally topped by a wooden tower and dating to the early 13th century. It is said Cromwell positioned cannon on it during the ill fated siege of Callan in 1649....

The Round Tower, measuring 92 ft. in height is on the far side of the Cathedral from the Vicar's Choral and dates to the 12th century since it has a Romanesque doorway. Round Towers were used mainly as belfries but could also have been used as a place of refuge....

The Round Tower of Timahoe looks spectacular at night as it is lit up. Situated on the edge of the attractive village of Timahoe, the round Tower is 30m tall and 17m in circumference, it is the biggest tower in Ireland and is situated on the site of a bronze age settlement....

One of the major landmarks in Trim, this is 14th century tower which was part of the Augustinian Abbey of St Mary. It was also used as a bell tower and a place of refuge. 
It's called the Yellow Steeple as the stone work sets off a golden colour during sun set....