Standing proudly across the road from Cloyne Cathedral, this well-preserved round tower rises 30 meters high and serves as one of the finest examples of medieval ecclesiastical architecture still in active use. Known locally as “the Steeple,” it has traditionally housed the cathedral’s bell and continues to define Cloyne’s skyline.

The tower consists of seven stories plus a basement, with a base diameter of 5.2 meters that tapers to 4 meters at the seventh floor. Built on solid foundations—two offset courses that rest directly on bedrock—the structure demonstrates the careful engineering that has allowed it to survive for centuries.

Access is through a square-headed door at first-floor level on the eastern face, following the typical round tower pattern of raised entrances. Inside, wooden floors and ladders at every level allow visitors to climb to the top. Each floor is lit by a single square-headed window, with notable exceptions: the fifth floor features an angle-headed window, while the seventh floor has four windows providing light around the bell chamber.

The tower’s current bell, inscribed “Sheridan Dublin maker 1857,” represents centuries of continuous use for its original purpose of calling the faithful to prayer. The vaulted roof and battlements were added in 1748-49 after lightning struck the top of the tower, giving it a somewhat more fortress-like appearance than typical round towers.

Despite the lack of early historical references to the tower’s construction, architectural historian Barrow notes that it “gives every indication of early construction,” suggesting it dates to the medieval period. Intriguingly, he also identified what may be a reused ogham stone (an early Irish inscribed stone) built into the door jamb—a tantalizing link to even earlier Irish Christian traditions.

The tower’s excellent state of preservation, complete with internal access and original function, makes it an exceptional survivor among Ireland’s round towers and a vital piece of Cloyne’s ecclesiastical heritage.