Killashee Church Tower

A Registered Historic Monument (No. 2/2009). At the S end of a low N-S pasture ridge. Located to the S of centre in a very overgrown graveyard (KD024-003004-), where it abuts the W end of a later, 18th century church (KD024-003001-) which stands on the site of the levelled nave of the older, medieval church, which itself may have stood on an early ecclesiastical site (KD024-003005-). According to Killanin and Duignan (1967, 384) this is the site of a church founded by Bishop Auxilius in the 5th century, and according to Jackson (1979-80, 155), 'Obits of the Abbots of Killashee occur in the Annals from 829 A.D.' A souterrain (KD024-003003-) in the adjoining field immediately to the SW was probably associated with the original foundation. According to Barrow (1972, 186-94) this inaccessible and totally overgrown three-storied tower comprises a square structure (ext. dims. L 5.3m N-S; Wth 4.7m E-W; int dims. L 3m E-W; Wth 2.75m N-S) at ground-floor level, which changes to a round structure at first-floor level (int. diam 2.75m). It is built of rough, uncoursed granite blocks (est. wall T at base 1.25m). A now blocked doorway in the N wall gave access to the ground floor of the tower, which has an inserted vaulted roof, from the time it acted as an entrance porch to the 18th century church, and there is a doorway in the E wall of the tower leading into the church. The tower is lit by two plain windows; one on the first-floor looking W and another near the top of the E wall. Behind the W gable wall of the later church, the E wall of the tower is open to first-floor level, and would have looked into the former medieval church. A late 18th century drawing by Beauford (1789, pl. 14) shows a partially ruined parapet which does not survive. The tower has a stone roof and may have functioned as the semi-fortified dwelling of the local cleric. Leask (1960, Vol 3, 182) noted the scar of the A-roof line of the medieval church on the E wall of the tower.