Antrim Round Tower
Map Reference: J154878 (3154, 3878)
St Comgall of Bangor is said to have founded a monastery at Antrim. St Finntan of Antrim (d. 613) and St Flann of Antrim (d. 728) were abbots of Bangor at the time of their deaths. When Bangor was plundered in 824 St Comgall’s relics were taken to Antrim. The monastery was plundered in 1018 and burned in 1147. The only remnant of the monastery is the Round Tower, in Steeple townland. It stands 28m high complete with conical cap. It owes its remarkably good condition to rebuilding and consolidation in the early 19th century.
General View
The square-headed doorway is 2.3m above ground level. It is 1.3m high and 60cm wide at the base and 56cm wide at the top. On the outside the stone above the lintel has a celtic cross carved on it. The carving is 1cm deep, 40cm high and 30cm across the arms. The tower is about six storeys high with four square-headed windows at various levels and four similar, smaller windows at the top floor.
The doorway
Nearby is a large boulder known as the Witch’s Stone. It has two good bullauns.
The Witch's Stone
For details of other Round Towers click on the links below
Armoy, Co Antrim
St Mullin’s, Co Carlow
Drumlane, Co Cavan
Drumcliff, Co Clare
Dysert O’Dea, Co Clare
Cloyne, Co Cork
Kinneigh, Co Cork
Tory Island, Co Donegal
Drumbo, Co Down
Maghera, Co Down
Nendrum, Co Down
Lusk, Co Dublin
Swords, Co Dublin
Devenish, Co Fermanagh
Kilbennan, Co Galway
Kilmacduagh, Co Galway
Roscam, Co Galway
Aghadoe, Co Kerry
Ratoo, Co Kerry
Castledermott, Co Kildare
Kildare, Co Kildare
Kilcullen, C Kildare
Oughterard, Co Kildare
Taghadoe, Co Kildare
Aghaviller, Co Kilkenny
Grangefertagh, Co Kilkenny
Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny
Kilree, Co Kilkenny
Tullaherin, Co Kilkenny
Timahoe, Co Laois
Kilmallock, Co Limerick
Dromiskin, Co Louth
Monasterboice, Co Louth
Aghagower, Co Mayo
Balla, Co Mayo
Killala, Co Mayo
Meelick, Co Mayo
Turlough, Co Mayo
Donaghmore, Co Meath
Kells, Co Meath
Clones, Co Monaghan
Clonmacnois, Co Offaly
Boyle, Co Roscommon
Oran, Co Roscommon
Drumcliffe, Co Sligo
Cashel, Co Tipperary
Roscrea, Co Tipperary
Ardmore, Co Waterford
Glendalough, Co Wicklow
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