Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRound tower
- Condition (as surveyed)Gone: no visible trace
- StatusNational Monument
What to look for
- Conical cap
- Windows
- Church beside
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
The round tower is SW of the present Church of Ireland church and the likely site of the daimhliag. It is now incorporated into the masonry wall of the graveyard (ME017-04434-).
Full archaeological record 112 words
The round tower is SW of the present Church of Ireland church and the likely site of the daimhliag. It is now incorporated into the masonry wall of the graveyard (ME017-04434-). It was extant in 1076 as in that year Murchadh O’Melaghlin, King of Tara, was murdered in it (Cogan 1862-70, 1, 41). It is constructed on a plinth resting on rock outcrop. The entrance doorway on the N side is 1.5m above the raised level of the graveyard and is round-arched and of sandstone. The tower (int. diam. 2.6m at the doorway) has five floors and has five pointed windows at the top. The conical cap is missing. (Barrow 1979, 168)
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore · Updated 2 July, 2014. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
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Around Kells Round Tower
Other heritage nearby
- St. Columb's HouseAncient church · 0.1 km
- Castlekeeran Church ruinAncient church · 5.1 km
- Castlekeeran CrossesHigh cross · 5.1 km
- Robertstown FortRingfort · 8.4 km
- Rathmore ChurchAncient church · 9.4 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 26 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 high crossesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Drewstown Woods - Girley Bog walkWalking Trail · 5.2 km · nearest point 6.3 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Girley BogForests · 6.5 km
- KellsWalled towns · 0.1 km
- AthboyWalled towns · 12 km
Other attractions nearby
- Kells Courthouse - Tourism and Cultural HubHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.6 km
- Kells Historic TrailAbbeys and Monastery · 0.6 km
- Spire of Lloyd and People's ParkHistoric Houses and Castle · 1.8 km
- Donaghpatrick ChurchAbbeys and Monastery · 8.6 km
What's on nearby
- Samhain Festival of Food & Culture2026-11-05 · 0.6 km
- The Samhain Literary Pub Crawl2026-11-06 · 0.3 km
- Samhain Festival of Food & Culture2026-11-06 · 0.6 km
Excavations nearby
- E3156 Townparks Commons of Lloyd 1, County MeathRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 1.0 km
- E3155 Newrath Little 1, County MeathRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 1.0 km