Armoy Round Tower



Map Reference: D078332 (3078, 4332)


An early monastery is said to have been founded at Armoy by St Olcan, a disciple of St Patrick. Nothing is known about it. The only trace of an early monastery is the stump of the Round Tower which stands in the grounds of the local parish church. The tower is about 11m high and has three storeys.



General View


The doorway faces south and is 1.6m above ground level. It is 1.8m high, 50cm wide at the base and 46cm wide at the top. The lintel is cut into a monolithic arch with a curved moulding 18cm wide and 2cm deep. This may have been carried down the jambs but they are in very poor condition. When the interior of the tower was excavated in 1843 a conical capstone was discovered. Several pins made from antlers and a length of line made from twisted hair were also discovered. These are some of the very few items of builders' tools discovered in a Round Tower. The discovery of the capstone indicates that there was once a conical cap but there is no indication of the original height.



The Doorway


For details of other Round Towers click on the links below

Antrim, 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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