This vanished round tower at Tullyard represents one of Ireland’s most historically significant lost monuments, documented through linguistic evidence, local tradition, and a dramatic entry in medieval annals. The site demonstrates how place names and cultural memory can preserve evidence of round towers that have completely disappeared from the physical landscape.

Linguistic Evidence and Place Names

John O’Donovan’s 1836 speculation about the existence of a round tower was based on compelling linguistic evidence. The area was known among Irish speakers as “Baile Chalcthighe” (from Cloigteach, meaning bell tower), while its English name “Steeplestown” directly translates this meaning. The Irish place name Tullyard derives from “Tullach Ard” (the high hill), suggesting the tower once stood on elevated ground that made it a prominent landmark.

Both Tullaghard and Steeplestown appear as recorded townland names on the Down Survey barony map of Navan, demonstrating that these place names were well-established by the 17th century and indicating the tower’s memory persisted long after its physical destruction.

Historical Documentation – The Fire of 1171

The tower’s existence is dramatically confirmed by an entry in the Annals of the Four Masters recording that in 1171, “Tiernan O Rourke burnt the Cloigtheach of Telach-aird.” This entry places Tullyard within the violent political conflicts of 12th-century Ireland, when Tiernan O’Rourke (Tigernán Ua Ruairc), king of Bréifne, was actively involved in the struggles preceding and following the Anglo-Norman invasion.
The deliberate burning of the round tower in 1171 suggests it was seen as a symbol of ecclesiastical or political authority worth destroying. This date places the destruction just one year after the Anglo-Norman landing and indicates the tower became caught up in the broader conflicts that transformed Irish society during this crucial period.

Local Tradition and 18th-Century Survival

O’Donovan’s investigation revealed that he had “local confirmation that a tower was extant in the area in the 1750s,” indicating the structure may have survived in some form for nearly 600 years after the 1171 burning. This suggests either the fire damage was not complete, allowing partial reconstruction, or that local tradition confused different structures or timeframes.

The survival of local memory about the tower’s existence well into the 18th century demonstrates how important these structures were as landmarks and reference points in rural communities, even when they no longer functioned as active ecclesiastical buildings.

Historical Context of Destruction

The 1171 burning by Tiernan O’Rourke occurs during one of the most turbulent periods in Irish history. O’Rourke was heavily involved in the events leading to the Anglo-Norman invasion—his conflict with Dermot MacMurrough over the abduction of O’Rourke’s wife Dervorgilla had contributed to the chain of events that brought the Anglo-Normans to Ireland.

The destruction of religious buildings and their associated round towers during this period reflects both the military strategies of the time and the way ecclesiastical sites became targets in broader political conflicts.

Archaeological and Historical Significance

Despite leaving no visible remains, the Tullyard round tower contributes significantly to understanding Irish medieval history through several important aspects:
The annalistic record provides a precise date for the tower’s destruction, making it one of the few Irish round towers with documented historical events. The linguistic evidence demonstrates how place names preserve cultural memory of vanished monuments. The local traditions recorded by O’Donovan show how knowledge of ancient structures persisted in oral culture across centuries.

Methodological Importance

O’Donovan’s investigation at Tullyard represents pioneering work in Irish toponymy and historical geography, demonstrating how linguistic analysis, historical records, and local tradition can be combined to identify lost archaeological sites. His methodology of connecting place names with historical records remains fundamental to Irish archaeological research.

The Problem of Complete Loss

The total disappearance of all physical traces of the Tullyard round tower, despite its historical documentation, illustrates how thoroughly medieval monuments can vanish from the landscape. Unlike towers that collapsed naturally and left foundation traces, the deliberate destruction followed by centuries of agricultural activity and stone removal for building projects can eliminate all archaeological evidence.

Cultural Memory vs. Physical Evidence

Tullyard demonstrates how cultural memory can preserve knowledge of historical monuments long after their physical destruction. The persistence of both Irish and English place names referring to the tower, combined with 18th-century local tradition, created a documentary trail that allows historians to reconstruct the existence of a completely vanished structure.