Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Monumental structure
Mornington, County Meath, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Mornington
- County
- Meath
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Ladys Finger
- Coordinates
- 53.72257, -6.25267
- SMR number
- ME021-003----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Vltoniae Orientalis Pars" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Built in the sand dunes on the S side of the estuary of the River Boyne. This masonry obelisk is known as the ‘Lady’s Finger’, and was undoubtedly built in conjunction with the Maiden Tower c. 70m to the E, probably during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It remains unchanged since it was illustrated by William Wilde (1849, 263). This is a circular, tapering, masonry column (diam. of base c. 1.25m; H c. 8m) with a conical cap that is separated from the stem by a string course. The column rises from a square base (dims 1.6m x 1.5m; H c. 1m).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of revision: 21 September 2021
References
Wilde, W. 1849 The beauties of the Boyne and its tributary, the Blackwater. Dublin. McGlashan.
Nearby in the register
- Watchtowerunder 1 mi
- Field system1 mi
- Enclosure1 mi
- Enclosure1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.