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Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRound tower
- Recorded size H.26m, wall W 1.30m, int. diam 2.40m
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
Associated with the monastic enclosure is a round tower which rises to four storeys and is entered in the east through a lintelled doorway with inclined jambs (dims. H.26m, wall Wth 1.30m, int. diam 2.40m). The interior is lit by plain square-headed opes above the doorway and at same level in the N and S. There is a corbelled roof over the first floor with timber floors on second and third.
Full archaeological record 89 words
Associated with the monastic enclosure is a round tower which rises to four storeys and is entered in the east through a lintelled doorway with inclined jambs (dims. H.26m, wall Wth 1.30m, int. diam 2.40m). The interior is lit by plain square-headed opes above the doorway and at same level in the N and S. There is a corbelled roof over the first floor with timber floors on second and third. The upper portion of the tower is a later reconstruction and topped with an undecorated Latin cross (DU011-034006-).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Geraldine Stout · Updated 08 January 2015. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
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Duleek Round Tower
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National MonumentRathmichael Round Tower
Round tower · Rathmichael · Dublin · 26 km away
National MonumentTaghadoe Round Tower
Round tower · Taghadoe · Kildare · 28 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- St. Werburgh's WellRitual site - holy well · Commons East · 1.2 km · official record
Named on Duncan's map (1821) as 'St. Werburgh's Well'. There is however another St Werburgh's well to the southwest (DU011-045----). This well has been built over. No visible remains.
- Lady WellRitual site - holy well · Cloghran (Coolock By.) · 3.0 km · official record
In 1958 the well had dried up and showed only as a hollow in a field where it was marked by a whitethorn bush. The site is no longer venerated (Ó Danachair 1958, 77). Within a level field of pasture.
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Around Swords Round Tower
Other heritage nearby
- Belfry at St Columba'sAncient church · 0.0 km
- Townparks Holy WellHoly well · 0.2 km
- Swords CastleCastle · 0.4 km
- St. Werburgh's WellHoly well · 1.1 km
- Cloghran Parish ChurchAncient church · 2.8 km
- Lady WellHoly well · 3.1 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 10 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Royal Canal Greenway - Drumcondra - Ashtown - CastleknockGreenway · 8.9 km · nearest point 11 km
- Royal Canal Greenway - Drumcondra - Ashtown - CastleknockGreenway · 8.9 km · nearest point 11 km
- Royal Canal Greenway Cycling TrailGreenway · 121.4 km · nearest point 12 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Portmarnock, Velvet Strand BeachBeaches · 7.3 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Donabate, Balcarrick BeachBeaches · 7.5 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Rogerstown Estuary Nature ReserveNature reserves · 7.9 km
- Baldoyle Estuary Nature ReserveNature reserves · 9.1 km
- DublinWalled towns · 13 km
- Georgian TownhouseHistoric stays · 13 km
- Merrion MewsHistoric stays · 13 km
Other attractions nearby
- Swords CastleHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.3 km
- Casino Model Railway MuseumMuseums and Attraction · 4.5 km
- Lambay Nature Walking ToursWalking · 4.7 km
- Malahide Historical ToursWalking · 5.0 km
What's on nearby
- ON ICE Swords2026-11-05 · 0.5 km
- Scummy Mummies - Hot Mess2026-11-05 · 8.2 km
- Festive Afternoon Tea at the Old Music Shop2026-11-05 · 12 km
Excavations nearby
- 01E1074 Site 2 Lissenhall Little, County DublinRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 2.7 km
- 01E0831 Site 3 Staffordstown, County DublinRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 4.0 km