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
What to look for
- 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
A round tower to SW of church (LA032-020002-) (Crawford and Leask 1925, 84) was destroyed in 1703 (Fitzgerald 1910, 189, 198).
Full archaeological record 221 words
A round tower to SW of church (LA032-020002-) (Crawford and Leask 1925, 84) was destroyed in 1703 (Fitzgerald 1910, 189, 198). Fitzgerald (1910, 189) recorded that on 'Monday ye 8th Day of March 1702/3, that day the Steeple of Killeshan undermined and flung down by one Bambrick, imployed by Captain Wolseley, in Three Days Works. 1702/3, 8th March at 3 of the clocke in ye afternoon ye Steeple fell to ye ground, being measured it was 105 feet [32m] high, or in length'. A second reference to the round tower dating from 1709 recorded that 'near the foot of the Mountain stands the old church of Killeshen, of which is a very old building. Here lately stood over again the Doore of the Church, one of the old round steeples which, I am told was very high old and well built, so that when the owner of the place had it fallen, it came to the ground in one solid piece, and was not even by the fall against the ground so broke, but that several pieces yet remain sticking together, so that you can easily discover what this building was. It plainly appears to be of the same building & age with the adjacent Church (LA032-020002-)'. No visible surface remains of any round tower in NW quadrant of graveyard (LA032-020004-).
References
- Date of revised upload: 26 March 2015
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Caimin O'Brien · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Laois. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
More round towers nearby
Kellistown Round Tower
Round tower · Kellistown East · Carlow · 13 km away
National MonumentCastledermot round tower
Round tower · Castledermot · Kildare · 13 km away
Visitor site National MonumentTimahoe Round Tower
Round tower · Timahoe · Laois · 18 km away
Dysart Round Tower
Round tower · Dysart · Laois · 24 km away

Kilkenny Round Tower
Round tower · Gardens (Kilkenny City By., St. Canice Par.) · Kilkenny · 27 km away
Visitors' notes
Badges are opinions of visitors - not verified facts. One vote per badge and visitor; no account needed.
Best time to visit
What's missing on this page?
Share a tip to find it
Share a local tradition or story
Suggest a correction
Suggest the right map location
Report a duplicate page
Ask a question
Do not include personal data. See our privacy notice.
Around Killeshin round tower
Other heritage nearby
- Killeshin ChurchAncient church · 0.0 km
- Sleaty ChurchAncient church · 4.2 km
- Saint Fiac's WellHoly well · 4.5 km
- Carlow CastleCastle · 4.6 km
- Clogrennane CastleCastle · 4.8 km
- St Abban's WellHoly well · 5.0 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 7 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 high crossesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Clogrennane Wood LoopWalking Trail · 2.4 km · nearest point 4.6 km
- Oak Park LoopWalking Trail · 3.7 km · nearest point 6.8 km
- Mullaghreelan Wood - O'Tuathaill walkWalking Trail · 2.0 km · nearest point 13 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- ClogrennanForests · 5.8 km
- Mullaghreelan WoodForests · 13 km
- Timahoe Esker Nature ReserveNature reserves · 20 km
- CarlowWalled towns · 4.9 km
- Old LeighlinWalled towns · 12 km
Other attractions nearby
- Killeshin Romanesque DoorwayHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.3 km
- Croppies GraveAttraction · 4.3 km
- Carlow CastleHistoric Houses and Castle · 4.6 km
- Saint Marys Church Of IrelandAbbeys and Monastery · 4.7 km
What's on nearby
- Derek Ryan - Songwriter Show2026-11-08 · 5.1 km
- Autumn / Winter Cinemas at VISUAL2026-12-22 · 5.1 km

