Sorted by: Round Towers
Aghadoe Church and Round Tower, Co. Kerry
This is a very nice church with a good example of a Romanesque doorway. The 13th and 17th century carvings are interesting. The broken ogham stone adds a bit more historial charm to the place.
Aghagower Round Tower and Church Ruins, Co. Mayo
St Patrick is said to have founded the monastery here and made St. Senach bishop. The round tower was built between 973 and 1013 and, legend has it, the top section, having been struck by lightening, landed on the hill of Tavenish, half a mile distant. An enterprising local woman picked up the cap stone and whisked it off in her apron to the church where it is still to be seen today! There is a very small Sheela na Gig embedded into the stonework near the holy well.
Antrim Round Tower, Co. Antrim
The tower was built around the 10th century as a bell-tower for protection from raiders and is known locally as The Steeple. It is 28m tall and is one of the finest of its kind in Ireland. The Annals report that the site was destroyed in 1018 and finally burned in 1147. There is an unusual cross carved stone above the lintel and also eight simple, flat headed windows. A large boulder known as the Witch's Stone, with two sizable bullauns, lies approximately 6m from the tower, slightly to the left front of the doorway.
Ardmore Cathedral and Round Tower, Co. Waterford
It is believed to be the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland. St. Declan lived in the region at some time in the period 350-450 AD and christianised the area before the coming of St. Patrick. There is a well-preserved 12th-century Round Tower and the ruins of a Cathedral and oratory dating from the 13th and 8th centuries respectively.
St. Olcan is said to have been ordained by St Patrick and founded the monastery here about 460 AD. The only trace of an early monastery is the stump of the Round Tower which stands in the grounds of St. Patrick's Parish Church on the edge of the village. The tower is about 11 m high and has three storeys. At a time, Armoy was the main religious settlement in the Irish part of the kingdom of Dal Riata.
St Mochua is said to have founded a monastery at Balla in either 637 or 694. It was destroyed by fire in 1179. The tower is approximately 10m tall and has two doors. The one at ground level is presumably a later addition. The original door has a simple lintel and is 5m or so off the ground.
Castledermot Round Tower and High Crosses, Co. Kildare
The town contains a 14th century Franciscan Abbey, a Hibernian-Romanesque arch, a 10th century round tower, two 9th century high crosses and a number of ancient stones and grave slabs.
Clondalkin Round Tower, Dublin, Co. Dublin
The tower stands on the site of a monastery founded by St Cronan or Mochua in the 7th century and which was plundered by the Vikings in 832 and burned in 1071.
Clones Round Tower, High Cross and Church Ruins, Co. Monaghan
The historic town of Clones developed around a monastery founded by St. Tighernach in the 6th century. Clones Round Tower is situated in the graveyard and was built around 10th century. The tower which is now about 23m high was originally much higher but the conical cap and top storey fell some time between 1591 and 1739. The High Cross dating from the 9th or 10th century. The panels on the front and back illustrate scenes from the Scriptures and the New Testament.
Clonmacnoise was founded in 545 by Ciaran (Kieran) of Clonmacnois, one of the 12 Apostles of Ireland. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, 7 churches (10th-13th century), 2 Round Towers, 3 High Crosses, the largest collection of Early Christian graveslabs and a 13th century castle ruins.