Castledermot Round Tower
Castledermot Round Tower is a 10th-century round tower in Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland. The tower, and the high crosses nearby, are a National Monument.[1]
| Castledermot Round Tower | |
|---|---|
Cloigtheach Dhíseart Diarmada | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| Location | |
| Location | Church Lane, Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland |
  Shown within Ireland | |
| Geographic coordinates | 52.910458°N 6.834934°W |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Irish round tower |
| Groundbreaking | 10th century |
| Specifications | |
| Height (max) | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Materials | Granite |
Building
The tower is complete, although the original cap has been replaced with battlements.[2] It is composed of rounded granite boulders embedded in mortar.[2]
History
Castledermot was founded as a monastic settlement c. 800 AD. The bishop-poet Cormac mac Cuilennáin was buried here in AD 938 and the round tower was probably built around that time.[3] The community ceased to exist some time after 1073.[4]
The crosses
East face of the north cross
There are two high crosses:
- The north cross depicts David, the Binding of Isaac and the miracles of Jesus.
- The south cross depicts the Arrest of Jesus, Daniel, and Adam and Eve.
References
- Castledermot Round Tower, Megalithic Ireland
- Castledermot Round Tower Co. Kildare, Roundtowers.org
- "Castledermot Church and Round Tower", Groses's Antiquities of Ireland (1792)
- Castledermot Round Tower, Crosses and Church Archived 2015-09-06 at the Wayback Machine, Chooseireland.com
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