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Monasterboice

Location
(53°46′38″N, 6°25′23″W)
Monasterboice
O 04 82
pre-1974 traditional (Republic of Ireland) Louth
now Louth
  • Rachel Moss
10 Sept 1996

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Feature Sets
Description

A round tower with a broken top, built of local slate with sandstone dressings on the doorway and lowest window. The circumference is 15.60 m at ground level (Barrow, 1979). The height is 28.50 m.

History

The monastery at Monasterboice was founded by St Buite mac Bronaigh (d.521). In 1097 it is recorded that the cloig teach (round tower) of Monasterboice was burned with all its books and treasures. This is the only known direct evidence from the Annals for the storeroom function of the round tower. The cap appears to have fallen off the tower during the second half of the 18thc. Floors, ladders and a roof were installed in 1871 under the supervision of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.

Features

Exterior Features

Doorways

Comments/Opinions

The moulding around the doorway of the tower suggests an early 12thc. date.

Bibliography

L. Barrow, The Round Towers of Ireland, Dublin, 1979, 150–3.

G. Petrie, The Round Towers of Ireland, Dublin, 1845, 407–9.

G. Wilkinson, Practical Geology and Ancient Architecture of Ireland, London, 1845, 78.

E. Dunraven, Notes on Irish Architecture, 2, Dublin, 1875-7, 11–15.

R. A. S. Macalister 'Monasterboice', The Irish Builder, (15 Feb 1878), 62.