Grangefertagh Round Tower

Grangefertagh Round Tower is the only remnant of an early monastery founded by St Ciaran of Seir. The original site is thought to date back to the 6th Century.

The site was raided by Vikings in 861 and in 1156 the High King Murtagh McNeale burned the tower.

The tower is 31 meters in height and that is with only a small part of the towers cap remaining.
The diameter of the tower is 4.8 meters.
Their are nine windows in total, six of which are angle headed & the remaining three are lintelled.

The doorway is 3.3 meters from ground level and as you can see in image 3 has had all of it's stone work removed.
This is said to have occurred when a farmer took the stones to help in the building of a fireplace!

The church is dated 13th Century and has had it's main section turned into a handball alley.

In one small section of the church is the tomb of Brian MacGiolla Phadraigh Lord of Ossory.

Access - The tower is very visible from the M8.
Parking can be found in a couple of spots close to the site. 

   
 

Aghaviller Round Tower and Church

The tower and church of Aghaviller can be found a short drive from exit 10 of the M19.
Built from sandstone the tower is just over 9.5 meters in height.
The doorway is set 4 meters from ground level.
The tower rests on a square stone plinth which is a feature that can only be found at one other tower (the near by Kilree).
The ground level doorway is a much later addition, added for help in the installation of a bell.
Dating of the tower is unknown, but the site has close ties with St Brennain

The church is dated 12th Century but was greatly altered in the 15th Century when a
residential tower was added.
The top of the church can be accessed via a stairway.
Mass was celebrated at Aghaviller as recently as 2008.

Access - The site is located just off the R701 on a very bad bend.
The church is very visible from the road and parking can be found driving up the lane way to the site.
This is a quite and peaceful graveyard but the proximity of the dense forest to the site can make it a little unsettling at times.
Aghaviller is probably the least well known of Kilkenny's round towers but should be added to your itinerary along with the others.    

Ardmore Round Tower

Ardmore is not alone home to this impressive complete Round Tower, but also this superb site has a Cathedral, an Oratory and two Ogham stones.

The round tower is just under 30 meters high and is thought to date back to the 12thCentury.
The four floored tower is made of sandstone and has a total of  7 windows, with the doorway just shy of four meters from ground level.
The cap of the tower is not the original - the replacement gives the tower looking like something that is about to take off from NASA.

St Declans Oratory (second last image on right) which gets its name from the 5thCentury saint is said to be the site of his grave. 
The church which is said to be the oldest structure on the site was restored by the Bishop of Waterford  Thomas Mills in 1716. 

The Cathedral dated 12thCentury has on its west gable panels which depict some scenes from the bible.
Inside the cathedral you will find two Ogham stones located in sheltered spots protected from the elements.

Access - Because of the tower you will see this site well in advance. 
It is well signposted from the N25 Dungarvan Youghal road.
The R673 will bring you right up to the tower. 

Dysart O'Dea Round Tower and Church

The Round Tower and Church of  Dysart O'Dea dated 12th Century, can be found in a lovely setting just a short drive from Ennis Co Clare.

The round tower rises to over 14 and a half meters (at its highest point).
The doorway is 4.5 meters from the base and is arched with six blocks.
There are two slit windows at ground level (a patch up job ?), which give you a good view of the inside.

The stand out feature of the church is the Romanesque doorway.
There are 19 stones in this arch which are carved with twelve human heads and nine heads of animals. 
The present church stands on the site of an early Christian monastery founded by St. Tola in the 8th century.

The site also has a High Cross to the east of the church, which I was unable to photograph due to it being 'guarded' by a prize bull.


Access
The site is signposted from the R476 and from that you take a narrow road which brings you to the tower and church. 

Parking is not a problem.

Carbury Castle

This striking ruin sits over looking the village of Carbury.
The original castle may have been built in the 14th Century by the de Bermingham family.
The four chimney stacks are believed to have been added in the 17th Century along with some large mullioned windows.
The outer walls still stand strong, but if you go inside the ruin be careful as the inside is not so sturdy.
To the south of the castle is a graveyard, which has one wall of a church and a Mausoleum belonging to the Colley family who carried out all the later work on the castle.

Donaghmore Church (St Farannan's church)

This 12th Century church is built on an earlier site founded by St Farannan.
The sites standout feature is the Romanesque doorway (despite missing some stones).

The church was taken into the care of the Board of Works in 1833, and around that time restoration work was carried out by Thomas Deane.

This small but striking ruin can be found just off the R689 as you travel from Fethard to Clonmel.

Maghera Round Tower and Church

This is the stump of a 10th century round tower (nearly six meters tall) which is in a field to the north of the church. It is said to have survived at its original height until the early 18th century when it was damaged in a storm.
The Church is hidden behind the modern Church and is thought to date from the 13th century the graveyard (which is being cleaned up) is well worth a walk around.

Oughterard Round Tower

The Round Tower is over 10 meters high and has a narrow round-headed doorway.
The site is said to date back to an old monastery which was founded here in the 6th century.
The Church which is beside the tower is said to have been built in 1609, but may be earlier.
It has an intact east window and partially preserved barrel-vaulting.
This is a great site with a graveyard that is kept superb all year round.
Oughterard is located only a short drive from the N7, parking is not great I parked on the road beside the graveyard.
                          

The Gallus Oratory

The Gallarus Oratory is a very unique church which may date from the 6th century.

It is built in the shape of an upturned boat.

Built of dry stones there is no roof; instead the stones taper towards the top.

The walls are built of sandstone and are 1.2 metres thick. 

They are perfectly fitted together and it is completely waterproof inside. 

It is dimly lit, with only a very small window opposite the entrance door (shown).

The church overlooks the harbour at Ard na Caithne (which was known as Smerwick untill quite recently) and is located on the stunning Dingle Peninsula.