Donaghmore Church and Round Tower, County Meath, Ireland

 

Donaghmore Church and Round Tower, County Meath, Ireland.

Donaghmore Roundtower is simply one of the many remaining Round Towers in Ireland. This Tower is situated in County Meath (The Royal County). It is called the Royal County as many of Irelands Clan/Tribal leaders lived in Meath over the centuries.

This Tower situated outside Navan in County Meath, is maintained by the Office of Public Works. If it were not for the efforts of the OPW many beautiful buildings such as this Round Tower would be lost to the wilderness.

On this site a Monastery was founded in the 5th Century by Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. You may have haerd of St Patrick due to the world wide celebration by Irish people of St Patrick on the 17th March each year.

Saint Patrick placed the Church at Donaghmore into the care of Saint Cassan. St Cassan's body is venerated here. The Round Tower was not built until the 11th or 12th Century. It is well perserved, but its upper part was badly restored in 1841. The Four windows which normally face north, south, east and west from the top of the round towers are not found here. And the stone at the top of it's roof is missing.

Origionally the Tower had wooden floors which were connected by ladders. The door way which is placed at height above the ground level, dates from the 12th Century but it might not be origional. It has carved surround with a crucifixion, with strangely twisted legs on the key stone, and a head facing outward from each of the jambs.

Beside the Tower are the remains of a small 16th century Church. County Meath is rich in heritage and culture. Meath is famous around the world for its historic sites, this Round Tower and Church would be less well known compared to New Grange and so forth.

There is free car parking at this site of the Round Tower and Church. And if you feel like a good walk it is only a few minutes from Navan Town which is the capital of County Meath