Drumcliff Church & Round Tower

Map Reference: R239801 (1239, 1801)

At Drumcliff there is the ruin of a small church and the stump of a Round Tower. Nothing is known about the history of the early monastery but the site is associated with St Conald.



The church has a two-light east window with ogee heads and a round-headed west window set within a deep recess. This may have been taken from an earlier church. There is a pointed south doorway.



The Round Tower stands to about three storeys plus basement but most of the wall in the region of the doorway is missing. The most remarkable thing about the graveyard is the number of large tombs. There must be in excess of 30. They seem to date from the second half of the 19th century.



Some of them have a pedimented front or a cornice hiding the pitched roof. In at least one of them the doorway is flanked by pilasters. At least two were used in the last 30 years.



It is a remarkable collection and it seems you have to be rich (and dead, of course) to get into Drumcliff cemetery.

For details of other Round Towers click on the links below

Antrim, Co Antrim Armoy, Co Antrim St Mullin’s, Co Carlow Drumlane, Co Cavan 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