Round Towers & High Crosses

Early Christian monastic landmarks and carved stone crosses

Built between the 9th and 12th centuries, Ireland's slender round towers and intricately carved high crosses are unmistakable signatures of its early monastic golden age. Originally serving as bell towers, landmarks, and places of refuge, many still stand beside medieval church ruins and ancient graveyards. These ten sites preserve some of the finest stonework in the country.

Round Tower Glendalough Round Tower

Round Tower County Wicklow

Glendalough Round Tower

Glendalough (; Irish: Gleann Dá Loch, meaning 'valley of two lakes') is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. From 1825 to 1957, the head of the Glendalough Valley was the site of a galena lead mine. Glendalough is also a recreational area for picnics, for walking along networks of maintained trails of varying difficulty, and also for rock climbing.

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High Cross County Wicklow

Fassaroe Cross

Fassaroe Cross, also called St. Valery's Cross, is a high cross and National Monument located near Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.

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High Cross County Kilkenny

Kilree High Cross

Kilree is a former Christian monastery and national monument located in County Kilkenny, Ireland.

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High Cross County Carlow

Nurney Cross

Nurney Cross is a stone cross located in Nurney, County Carlow, Ireland, and is an early example of a high cross. The site was a monastic site founded by Abbán in the 5th century AD and the cross is believed to date from that time.

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Round Tower County Down

Drumbo Round Tower

The Drumbo round tower (Irish: Cloigtheach Druim Bó) is a truncated Irish round tower in Drumbo, County Down, Northern Ireland.

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Round Tower County Kerry

Aghadoe Round Tower

Aghadoe Round Tower is a historic round tower located in County Kerry. It is categorized as a historic round tower.

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High Cross County Westmeath

Bealin High Cross

Baylin High Cross is a high cross and National Monument located near Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland.

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Round Tower County Kildare

Castledermot Round Tower

Castledermot Round Tower is a 10th-century round tower in Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland. The tower, and the high crosses nearby, are a National Monument.

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