Round tower

The National Monuments Service's description

On the brow of a gentle S-facing slope commanding excellent views of the surrounding countryside except directly W where ground level rises. Situated in the NW corner of a roughly rectangular graveyard (KK024-062002-), with the SW angle of the medieval church (KK024-062001-) 2.4m to the NE. The origins of Tullaherin are unclear as the name has changed over the centuries, however, Manning (1998, 19-21) argues that Tullaherin equates with Telach nInmainne which is mentioned in the annals in 1026 when it was raided and again in 1121 when the round tower was struck by lightning and stone from it fell, killing a student. As the patron saint of the church of Tullaherin is St. Ciarán, Manning (ibid.) suggests that Tullaherin may have been part of an amalgamation of churches connected with St. Ciarán of Seir at the time of the establishment of the diocese of Ossory in the 12th century (ibid.).
Lalor (1999 (Reprint 2016), 175), suggests that the round tower was probably rebuilt after the damage in 1121, with the addition of more windows (ibid.). A six-storey round tower (H 22.5m; ext. diam. at base 4.92m; ext. diam. at top 4.26m; wall T at door level 1.07m; wall T at top 0.94m) constructed of well coursed rough blocks of sandstone, gradually tapering towards the top. The upper courses (H 3m) are constructed of roughly coursed rubble, containing four rectangular windows with a string course above, and are a later addition, though they appear to have been there in 1892. The windows, facing NW, N, NE and E, are flat-headed with cut limestone surrounds (dims. H 0.86m; Wth 0.28m). The broken out entrance (H above ground 3.7m) is in the NE face. There are four flat-headed original windows, with uncut surrounds, positioned at various levels in the tower, facing SSE, W, N and NE respectively. In 1892 the Board of Public Works carried out repair work on the tower, which included partially closing the broken out entrance and stabilising the wall at the top (ibid.). According to the Board of Works report each internal floor level, which would have had a wooden floor, was supported on internal offsets 12 feet (3.66m) apart (ibid.). Each floor would have been reached internally by a wooden ladder. In 1976 the tower was struck by lightning displaying some stones c. 2m above the ground on the SW and causing an external crack to open above this breach, and another crack on the internal wall from the second storey window to the ground (ibid.). Conservation work carried out within the tower in 2003 showed that the internal face at the base of the tower had no projecting footing and, at original floor level, three levels of clay flooring were uncovered (Hayden 2007, 229).
(National Monument no. 161)

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 6 March 2017

References

Manning, C. 1998 Some notes on the early history and archaeology of Tullaherin. In the shadow of the steeple 6, 19-39.

Barrow, G.L. 1979 The round towers of Ireland: a study and gazetteer. Dublin. The Academy Press.

Hayden, A. 2007 Tullaherin: round tower. In I. Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2004: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 229, No. 930. Dublin, Wordwell

Lalor, B. 1999 (Reprint 2016) The Irish round tower. Wilton, Cork. Collins Press.