Castledermot Round Tower

52°54′38″N 6°50′06″W / 52.910458°N 6.834934°W / 52.910458; -6.834934ArchitectureStyleIrish round towerGroundbreaking10th centurySpecificationsHeight (max)20 m (66 ft)MaterialsGranite

Castledermot Round Tower is a 10th-century round tower in Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland. The tower, and the high crosses nearby, are a National Monument.[1]

Building

The tower is complete, although the original cap has been replaced with battlements.[2] It is composed of rounded granite boulders embedded in mortar.[2]

History

Castledermot was founded as a monastic settlement c. 800 AD. The bishop-poet Cormac mac Cuilennáin was buried here in AD 938 and the round tower was probably built around that time.[3] The community ceased to exist some time after 1073.[4]

The crosses

East face of the north cross

There are two high crosses:

  • The north cross depicts David, the Binding of Isaac and the miracles of Jesus.
  • The south cross depicts the Arrest of Jesus, Daniel, and Adam and Eve.

References

  1. ^ Castledermot Round Tower, Megalithic Ireland
  2. ^ a b Castledermot Round Tower Co. Kildare, Roundtowers.org
  3. ^ "Castledermot Church and Round Tower", Groses's Antiquities of Ireland (1792)
  4. ^ Castledermot Round Tower, Crosses and Church Archived 2015-09-06 at the Wayback Machine, Chooseireland.com