Round tower in Clonmacnoise

National Monument No. 81. Circular tower (diam. at base 5.6m; wall T 1.12m; H 19m) five storeys high built with coursed finely cut ashlar blocks of limestone on a protruding plinth. The top storey which was rebuilt in the medieval period has 8 rectangular slits. Round headed door at first floor level, facing SE. Conical cap now destroyed, wooden floors carried on corbels at every level. One simple flat headed window at second and third floors facing SW and N respectively. Locally known as O' Rourke's tower which according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise was built in the year 1124, the roof of which was struck by lightning in 1135 (Barrow 1979, 173-5). English soldiers carried off the bell of the Round tower in 1552 (Harbison 1972, 202-4). Depicted on the first two editions of the OS 6-inch map but not on the last edition. (Cooke 1875, 372; Monahan 1886, 66-8; Westropp 1907, 290; MacAlister 1910, 20-7; O' Flanagan 1933 vol. 1, 65) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

The Round Tower in Clonmacnoise was built in the 10th century by a monastic community associated with the important early Christian site of Clonmacnoise. It is a classic example of Irish early medieval architecture, constructed from finely cut limestone, and is significant as one of the best-preserved and tallest round towers in Ireland, reflecting the religious and cultural importance of the monastic settlement.