Irish Round Towers

The Round Towers of Ireland are among the most enigmatic and extraordinary constructions of the early Irish Church. Why were they put up What were they used for Where did the idea come from, and whenHector McDonnell, one of Irelands bestknown contemporary painters, outlines the story of the round towers, and presents a radical theory. With a gazetteer at the back, and numerous rare early engravings, this is an excellent small guide to the field.

• St. Molaissis, Kilmacnessan
• irish round towers by Hector McDonnell First published 2005 AD Wooden Books Ltd 2005 Published by
• Introduction 1 Near Eastern Connections 2 Abbots and Crosses 4 Mills, Mortar and Monas
• Glendalough
• 1 IntroductIon The round towers of Ireland are by far the largest relics of the ancient Irish church
• 3 2 near eastern connectIons and Holy Land influences Missionaries from Britain and Gaul Christianis
• 5 4 abbots and crosses the very first Irish towers The towers must at least predate their first ment
• 7 6 Irish monasteries were genuine centres of knowledge and inventiveness. In the sixth century the
• 8 Like the towers, virtually all other Irish buildings of the time had circular plans. The Irish li
• 10 geoMetry an octave in the round The approximate height of twentysix towers is known. Three are ex
• 13 12 doors and WIndoWs up in the air Nearly all the towers have entrances well above ground level.
• The towers positioning also followed a pattern. They usually stand near the western end of the mona
• 17 16 cashel of the bishopkings In the late fourth century the Eghanachta dynasty established their
• 19 18 clones an early tower Clones monastery was founded by St. Tigernach, who had previously been t
• 20 devenIsh Ulsters finest St. Molaise founded Devenish in the 6th century, and Vikings destroyed it
• 22 ardMore a noble survivor The monastery is said to be a fifth century foundation of the prePatrici
• 24 ancIent destructIon and persistent pillaging Some towers vanished so long ago that we only know o
• 27 26 survIval and some more destruction Today some seventythree round towers still exist, while sev
• 29 28 speculatIons and absurdities Irish antiquarians often plunged into some very peculiar round to
• 31 30 prestIge of abbots and warriors The truth seems to be reasonably simple. Tall was beautiful e
• 33 32 a WoMan WIth an ansWer but several more questions In the 1870s a remarkable woman, Miss Margar
• 35 34 ravenna the city of the round campanili Ravenna is famous, not for its round campanili but for
• 37 36 charleMagne Charlemagne and the round tower The Irish were not alone in being inspired by Rave
• 38 northern european round toWers and Charlemagnes church builders Round bell towers were therefore
• 41 40 MInarets and lIghthouses looking out to see Tradition maintains that the first of Ravennas rou
• 42 There were direct contacts between the Islamic ports of North Africa and Ravenna, so the idea of
• 45 44 clockIng In keeping a watch on time The Irish round towers were designed, like the minarets an
• 47 46 bell castIng a monkish mystery Early Christian bells looked like cowbells and were rung by han
• 49 48 the leanIng toWer a swan song In an important sense the Irish clog tigh continued the lighthou
• Cashel
• 53 52 coMplete gazeteer Aghadoe Ruinous. 3 km NW of Killarney on R562, Co. Kerry. 5.5m high, 4.6m
• 55 54 tradition said it had a silver bell of miraculous power. 3 Devenish Complete, with cap. On D
• Nendrum Stump. 10 km SE of Comber, Co. Down, on the A22. 4.4m high, 4.2m base diam. Monastery fo