Drumcliff Round Tower and High Crosses

In the shadow of Ben Bulben, within a small walled enclosure, stands Sligo’s only round tower. The round tower and high cross are all that is left of a monastery founded by St. Columcille in 574AD, on a site granted by Áed mac Néill, son of the King of Ireland. St. Columcille appointed St. Thorian as the first abbot of his monastery at Drumcliff. Records of the activities of the monastery and its abbots have been recorded from the late 10^th century to the 16^th The Annals of Connaught note that in the year 1416 the abbey was attacked and set on fire, and the abbot, Maurice O’Coincoil, perished in the flames.

Drumcliff Round Tower, dated to the 11^th century, is built of mortared stone rubble and stands to a height of 9m. The entrance door is slightly less than 2m from ground level on the ESE side. The current top of the round tower has a square headed window. In 1396, a lightning strike was recorded, in The Annals of the Four Masters, to have struck the round tower. Prior to 1836, a large section of the top of the tower was removed to build a nearby bridge.

Drumcliff High Cross, in the graveyard opposite the round tower, is complete. Other High Crosses have been identified: one is a weathered shaft of limestone, and a second is incorporated in the walls of St. Columba’s Church. The Drumcliff High Cross, like Drumcliff Round Tower, is the only known existing example of its kind in Sligo. It is also the only known high cross in Ireland to show a depiction of the Virgin Mary and child. On the north and south faces of the cross depictions of interlocking spirals and interlace are visible. A four-legged beast rearing up in profile is visible, so too are depictions of the Crucifixion, the Return from Egypt, the Arrest of Jesus, Adam and Eve, David killing Goliath and, experts believe, Christ in Majesty.

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