Castledermot Round Tower

Castledermot monastic settlement was established by the 9^th century, founded by St. Diarmuid who died in 825AD. It is the burial place of the Bishop and King of Munster, Cormac mac Cuilennáin, d. 938AD. The Annals of Ulster, the Annals of Innisfallen, and the later Annals of the Four Masters, give a glimpse into Cormac’s piety. Cormac’s untimely death came as a result of a fall from his horse after leading his Munster army into battle. Within the settlement today are numerous grave slabs, cross slabs, cross inscribed stones, the round tower, a hogback tomb, high crosses, architectural fragments and St James’ parish church.

The hogback tomb is the only one of its kind in Ireland. This Scandinavian style tomb has runes carved on one side and Christin iconography on the other, reflecting the shift in Viking settlers from paganism to Christianity.

The present day St James’ church, rebuilt in the 17^th century, incorporates much of the architectural features of the earlier monastery. These include a round arched doorway of triangular voussoirs with a triple row of mouldings, possibly a chevron ornament. The low rounded mouldings of the door jambs are from the 12^th century, with the 13^th century represented by the plastered arcade of three pointed arches built when the new nave was added.

Castledermot round tower, joined to the church, dates to the 10^th century and is approximately 20m in height. Built of granite field stones, which gives the tower a cobbled effect, it has 5 levels culminating in medieval style crenellations. The round tower has been heavily altered, the interior floors are not at the original levels, arched windows and flat headed windows added, with the crenellations from the 16^th century. Castledermot was sacked and raided by the Vikings, with the last raid occurring in 1106AD

Typically round towers were built to the west of the church, however, this tower is to the north of the main church. The fact that the tower’s entrance doorway is at ground level, is another feature that makes Castledermot different from other Irish round towers.

In the graveyard, a 10^th century high ringed cross on the north side of the site, known as the North Cross, is built of granite, has scroll and key decorations, with a figured and ornamental base and shaft panels depicting the Binding of Isaac and the miracles of Jesus. To the south, the South high ringed cross, has a pyramidal base depicting the Arrest of Jesus and Adam & Eve. On the west side stands another high cross. Architectural fragments and mouldings, including those found during the rebuilding of the graveyard wall in 1986, were placed into the church.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014