Irish round towers are tall, cylindrical constructions
with a doorway usually about 10 above the ground. Originally they had
wooden stairs inside, and landings at each storey. Their main function
was as bell towers - to call monks in from the fields for prayer - but
were used as places of refuge as well. The round tower at Scattery Island
is a perfect example of a tower, standing 120 feet high. Unusually,
its door is at ground level. The tower on Iniscaltra is complete except
for missing top storey. Those at Drumcliff, Dysert O’Dea and Killinaboy
are less well-preserved. No trace remains of the towers at Rath or Tuamgraney.
Photos
of Round Towers
Map
of the round towers of Clare (based on the Sites and Monuments Record
created by the OPW overlaid on the 1842 Ordnance Survey index map).
