Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Round tower
Tullyard,steeplestown, County Meath, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Tullyard,steeplestown
- County
- Meath
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- SMR number
- ME030-026----
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The National Monuments Service's description
John O’ Donovan in the 1836 speculated that Tullyard from Tullach Ard – the high hill, once had a round tower because it was known amongst Gaelic speakers as Baile Chalcthighe (from Cloigteach – bell tower) or Steeplestown as it was known in English, and he had local confirmation that a tower was extant in the area in the 1750s (Herity 2001, 67-8). Tullaghard and Steeplestown are both recorded as townland names on the Down Survey (1655-8) barony map of Navan. In 1171 Tiernan O Rourke burnt the Cloigtheach of Telach-aird (AFM), and this is identified as Tullyard (Barrow 1979, 170), but no other history can be attached to it.
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: 17 April 2019
References
AFM - Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters from the earliest period to the year 1616, ed. and trans. John O'Donovan (7 vols., Dublin, 1851; reprint New York, 1966)
Herity, M. (ed.) 2001 Ordnance Survey Letters: Meath. Dublin. Four Masters Press
Barrow, G.L. 1979 The round towers of Ireland: a study and gazetteer. Dublin. The Academy Press.