Castledermot Round Tower
52°54′38″N 6°50′06″W / 52.910458°N 6.834934°W / 52.910458; -6.834934
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
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.