Rattoo, Kerry

I Location

Site Location
Rattoo
National Grid Reference
17Q 88 33
County
Kerry
Dedication
not confirmed
Type of building/monument
Round Tower

II General Description

General view

General view

General view

General view

Round tower,upper part.

Round tower,upper part.

Well preserved round tower with a round-headed doorway on E. There are four windows with triangular gables at the top of tower facing N, S, E and W, and a smaller window with a triangular gable below the E window.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

(i) E Doorway

Round tower, E door

Round tower, E door

Round tower, doorway.

Round tower, doorway.

Round tower, doorway.

Round tower, doorway.

Round headed, with a plain moulding or frame in raised relief around the door, (w. of moulding 0.23 m) surmounted by a thin raised moulding over the arch ending in upturned spirals N and S. Above this on the keystone is the remains of an additional decoration, which is badly worn and damaged. The sill projects slightly below the doorway.

Dimensions
h. above ground 2.83 m
h. of doorway 1.60 m
d. of doorway 1.14 m
w. at base 0.63 m
w. at springing 0.54 m

2. Windows

(i) Tower

Four windows with triangular gables and plain mouldings at top of tower. One similar but smaller window sits below these on the E face of tower. A sheila-na-gig was discovered when the tower was scaffolded in 1880-81, carved on the top left corner of the N window facing towards the interior of the tower. A plaster cast is in the National Museum of Ireland. The figure is carved in relief on two stones, the lintel and the jamb stone below it. It is uncertain whether it is contemporary with the tower, or a later addition.

Dimensions
max. h. 0.30 m.
max. w. 0.14 m

VII History

The early monastery was founded by Bishop Lughach, one of the earliest propagators of Christianity in Kerry. In the 13thc. the site was occupied by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem and subsequently by an abbey of Arroasian canons who remained there until the Dissolution. There are two churches adjacent to the tower which apparently belong to the later medieval period.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The carving over the doorway is without parallel in a round tower context, although the use of a raised broad band around a door opening with cross/apex decoration can be seen at Britway (Cork) and Killeenemer (Cork) and on the east window at Killodiernan (Tipperary).

IX Bibliography

  • J. Andersson, The Witch on the Wall, Copenhagen, 1979, 101-2.
  • G. L. Barrow, The Round Towers of Ireland, Dublin, 1979, 109-113.
  • M. J. Byrne, 'Rattoo', Journal of the Cork Archaeological and Historical Society, 16, 1910, 182 and 1911, 17.
  • J. A. Gaughan, Notes on Listowel and the Vicinity, Cork, 1973, 20-38.
  • A. Gwynn and R. N. Hadcock, Medieval Religious Houses, Ireland, London, 1970, 43, 191.
  • P. Harbison, Guide to the National and Historic Monuments of Ireland, 1992, 184.
  • R. Hitchcock, 'Round Towers of Co. Kerry', JRSAI, 2 (1852), 247-9.
  • G. Petrie, The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland , Dublin, 1845, 395.
  • Unsigned note on sheila-na-gig, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 24, 1894, 80.