Nendrum Monastic Site

Map Reference: J524636 (3524, 3636)

This monument, on Mahee Island, is the site of a monastery founded by St Mochaoi in the 5th century. There are references in the annals during the succeeding centuries and in 987 it was burned, probably in a Viking raid. In the late 12th century the Benedictines founded a monastic cell here but by the early 14th century it was abandoned. It remained lost until the 1920s when an extensive excavation revealed the remains of the walls, a church and a Round Tower.



The small glacial hill is crowned by three concentric oval walls. Between the outer and the middle wall were found foundations of circular huts and of a rectangular building known as "the schoolhouse". Associated with this building were found many "trial pieces" bearing interlacing and animal carvings similar to those found on the High Crosses and in the illuminated manuscripts.



Within the inner monastic wall is the stump of a Round Tower and the low ruins of a small church. This appears to have had a lintelled W doorway although the appearance of the building today owes much to restoration following the 1920s excavations.



Fragments of an early sundial were also found and have been re-erected at the SW corner of the church.

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 Drumcliff, Co Clare Dysert O’Dea, Co Clare Cloyne, Co Cork Kinneigh, Co Cork Tory Island, Co Donegal Drumbo, Co Down Maghera, 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