kildare cathedral and round tower

The Cathedral was begun by Ralph of Bristol around 1223, but only the south transept and a part of the tower as well as small portions of the rest of the church date from this period. It was partially restored in the 15th century, and heavily restored int he 19th century when the choir was almost totally rebuilt. In the south transepts are preserved some good medieval tombs (particularly that of Sir Maurice Fitzgerald of Lackagh who died in 1575) and some of the medieval floor-tiles, and in the choir is the effigy of Bishop John of Taunton (died 1258). The fine effigial tomb of Bishop Wellesly (died 1539) was moved here from Great Connell in 1971. In the churchyard can be seen a plain granite High Cross and a Round Tower. For a small fee you can climb to the top of the Round Tower

It has a fine Romanesque doorway with a pointed hood; the conical cap of the tower was replaced by a stepped parapet in the 18th century. To the north of the nave of the Cathedral are the foundations of a building in which - according to tradition-St.