Tullaherin Monastic Site

Tullaherin

Round Tower

The early 9th Century Round Tower contains 6 storeys in it's 22.5 metre height, although the upper layer was added later, perhaps when the adjacent church was built or the chancel was added. This upper storey has partially collapsed and is capless, but once contained eight windows, a feature it shares only with the Round Tower at Clonmacnoise. The doorway is 3.7 metres above ground level but is oddly misshapen without facing blocks, most likely the victim of stone robbers.

Looking up the Tower

All the windows, including those remaining in the upper storey, are lintelled. Also fascinating about this tower is that the chiselled breccia blocks in each layer are nearly the same size and go the full thickness of the nearly 1 metre thick walls. The leaning tower was scaffolded in 2001 and work to stabilize the structure took many years. A bulge can still be seen on the south side.

The Round Tower

From the South East

Doorway

The Base

Situated: 15 kilometres south east of Kilkenny City. From Bennetsbridge take the Gowran Rd east, after 2 kilometres take a right turn. After a 1.7 kilometres take a left turn. Continue for 1.5 kilometres. The round tower should be visible on your right.

Google Map

Discovery Map 67: S 5910 4785 Last visit March 2011.

Longitude: 7° 7' 41.09" W

Latitude: 52° 34' 43.72" N

Photos: Jim Dempsey and Deb Snelson

Approx date: 11th Century

Dimensions: Height 22.5 m. Diameter: 4.92 m

Door: Above ground 3.7m. Type: Unknown

Windows: Eight. All lintelled.

Features: None

Cap: Missing

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