Castledermot Round Tower

Castledermot Round Tower
Cloigtheach Dhíseart Diarmada
Shown within Ireland
Basic information
Location Church Lane, Castledermot,
County Kildare, Ireland
Geographic coordinates 52°54′38″N 6°50′06″W / 52.910458°N 6.834934°W / 52.910458; -6.834934Coordinates: 52°54′38″N 6°50′06″W / 52.910458°N 6.834934°W / 52.910458; -6.834934
Affiliation Catholic
Heritage designation National Monument
Architectural style Irish round tower
Groundbreaking 10th century
Height (max) 20 m (66 ft)
Materials Granite

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.[1]

Building

The tower is complete, although the original cap has been replaced with battlements.[2] It is composed of rounded granite boulders embedded in mortar.[2]

History

Castledermot was founded as a monastic settlement c. 800 AD. The bishop-poet Cormac mac Cuilennáin was buried here in AD 938 and the round tower was probably built around that time.[3] The community ceased to exist some time after 1073.[4]

The crosses

East face of the north cross

There are two high crosses:

References

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