Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeEcclesiastical site
- Date or period mentioned8th-century
- StatusNational Monument
What to look for
- Tower
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Visiting
- National Monument in State care, listed by the National Monuments Service as a monument to visit.NMS Monuments to Visit · official page
- May be on private land and not open to the publicNational Monuments Service advice
- Wear suitable footwear and clothingNational Monuments Service advice
- Uneven ground: not suitable for everyone, especially wheelchair usersNational Monuments Service advice
Opening times and fees change: check with the operator before you go.
About Old Kilcullen Monastic Site
Where it is
- The ancient church of Old Kilcullen is situated on a high hill with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.
Its history
- In 938 the church was plundered by the Vikings of Dublin.
What you'll see
- On the neighbouring hill of Dún Áilline are the remains of the ancient inauguration site of the early kings of Leinster.
- The site is dominated by the remains of a round tower, standing 11m high.
- There is also a second shaft of a decorated high cross.
- On the east face are carvings of twelve figures, most likely the apostles.
- On the north face is a representation of David and a lion.
- Below this is a man with a bell and a crosier who is holding an adze.
- This appears to be a representation of Mac Tail whose name translates from Irish as ‘son of adze’.
Stories and folklore
- The ancient church site at Old Kilcullen was allegedly founded by St Patrick for Mac Tail, who died in 549.
Nearby
- Nearby is a tall shaft of a high cross.
Text: National Monuments Service, Monuments to Visit (CC BY 4.0). Sentences grouped by topic by ErinSites; the wording is unchanged.
History and description
Full archaeological record 161 words
On a moderately steep-sided hilltop (OD c. 150m) upon which several roads converge. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 4, 384-5, 391-599), the placename Kilcullen derives from Cill Chuilinn, ‘church of the steep slope’. This was an Early Christian foundation traditionally associated with Isernius (d. 468) and MacTail (d. 548). The deaths of its abbots are recorded from the later 8th-century, and a number of bishops are noted in the 10th and 11th-centuries. Its plundering by Amhlaibh and the foreigners (Norse) of Dublin is recorded in 937-8 and another raid is recorded in 944. A stone church is mentioned in 1037 and the monastery was burned in 1114. Little physical evidence of the early monastery survives, but some curving field boundaries may reflect the line of an early monastic enclosure (KD028-049014-). The site’s importance is reflected in the later, High crosses (KD028-049002-, KD028-049003- and KD028-049004-), round tower (KD028-0490006-) and church ruins KD028-049005-) which do survive. (Gwynn and Hadcock 1979, 42-3)
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Gearóid Conroy · Updated 17 May 2013. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
This was an Early Christian foundation traditionally associated with Isernius (d. 468) and MacTail (d. 548).
More monastic sites nearby
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Around Old Kilcullen Monastic Site
Other heritage nearby
- Old Kilcullen Round TowerRound tower · 0.1 km
- Old Kilcullen ChurchAncient church · 0.1 km
- Tubber-molinHoly well · 2.7 km
- St Mary's Church, CastlemartinAncient church · 3.3 km
- Calverstown CastleCastle · 4.4 km
- Great Connell PrioryAbbey or friary · 7.1 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 high crossesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- St Kevin's Way - Pilgrim PathPilgrim Path · 34.4 km · nearest point 11 km
- Kilcoagh LoopWalking Trail · 10.8 km · nearest point 13 km
- Fauna Short LoopWalking Trail · 4.8 km · nearest point 14 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Pollardstown Fen Nature ReserveNature reserves · 10 km
- Old KilcullenWalled towns · 0.0 km
- KilcullenbridgeWalled towns · 2.9 km
- Martinstown HouseHistoric stays · 4.0 km
Other attractions nearby
- Harristown HouseHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.4 km
- Curragh Military MuseumMuseums and Attraction · 6.2 km
- Irish Working SheepdogsNature and Wildlife · 8.1 km
- Pollardstown FenNatural Landscape · 10 km
What's on nearby
- West Wicklow Festival 20262026-11-13 · 14 km
- Learn the Art of Letterpress2026-11-14 · 8.1 km
- Land of Light2026-11-14 · 10 km
Excavations nearby
- E4385 Halverstown 1, County KildareRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 2.0 km
- E4389 Kilgowan 4., County KildareRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 2.1 km