Friday, March 21, 2014

Drumcliff Round Tower




Drumcliff Round Tower, County Clare is one of two round towers in Ireland with the same name, the other can be found in County Sligo.

Not very much is known about the early monastery on this site but it is associated with St Conald (7th Century).
The tower which is featureless rises to 11 meters at its highest point.
This is a great pity as it is documented as having a door and three windows two centuries ago.

The church which is beside the tower is dated 15th Century, but incorporates parts of an earlier church which probably date back to the same time as the tower (10th Century).  

The tower is located in a graveyard which is only a short drive from the town of Ennis.
The most striking feature of the graveyard is the big number of large tombs dotted all around.

Access - parking is not a problem as the graveyard is still in use, from the road the walk to the tower is quite steep but a short one.    
The monastic settlement of Drumcliff located some 2km from Ennis dates back to the 7th century and its foundation is credited to St Conald - See more at: http://www.county-clare-i.com/drumcliff-round-tower.html#sthash.Nrku1Jn4.dpuf
The monastic settlement of Drumcliff located some 2km from Ennis dates back to the 7th century and its foundation is credited to St Conald - See more at: http://www.county-clare-i.com/drumcliff-round-tower.html#sthash.Nrku1Jn4.dpuf