This represents another case of a "phantom" round tower—one proposed by 19th-century antiquarian George Petrie but lacking any supporting physical evidence. The absence of surface remains at Durrow Demesne highlights the challenges inherent in early Irish archaeological scholarship and the importance of distinguishing between documented monuments and theoretical reconstructions. Petrie's...
Round Tower at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly
Standing among the ruins of Ireland's most famous monastic city, the round tower at Clonmacnoise represents one of the most historically documented examples in the country. Rising 19 meters through five stories and built from finely cut limestone ashlar blocks, this tower carries the local name "O'Rourke's Tower" and possesses...
Round Tower Base at Seir Kieran, Churchland, Co. Offaly
Located within the impressive remains of a bivallate ecclesiastical enclosure, this round tower base at Seir Kieran represents the fragmentary survival of what was once part of Ireland's most ancient monastic foundations. Founded by St. Kieran the Elder in the 5th century, the site combines exceptional historical antiquity with a...