The Round Tower

ROSCREA - Round Tower

The Round Tower at St. Cronan's Abbey, Roscrea

ROSCREA - Round Tower

The Round Tower at St. Cronan's Abbey, Roscrea

The Round Tower, dating from the 10th Century, is situated northwest of the west gable of St. Cronan's Church. Round Towers, structures unique to Ireland, were very versatile buildings and served a number of different uses, one of which was refuge. A safe haven was particularly needed in Roscrea during the 9th and 10th Centuries, as Viking raids on affluent monasteries were a frequent threat: the Tower was eventually built after one of these attacks. It is recorded that it was damaged by lightning in 1131.

Unexplained Carvings

One of the more remarkable features of the Tower appears on the east window jamb, the carving of a single-masted ship, along with an illegible inscription below it. On the same window jambs can also be seen carvings of an axe and a belted cross. No definitive explanations have been offered to account for the meaning of these decorations.

The Tower's Recent History

The Tower as it is today measures 60 feet, but it originally rose to a height of 80 feet. The top of the tower was demolished in 1798 after the top floor was used by an insurgent sniper, who availed of the prime position it offered to fire at sentries in the barracks. Up until the new Church of Ireland church was constructed, in 1812, the Tower acted as a belfry, and three years later it was inhabited by the Scully family. One of their official tasks was to hoist the Orange flag to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne every July.

Sources - Cunningham, "Roscrea and District"; OPW, "Urban Archaeological Survey"

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