Historical Postcard Collection: Roscrea - The Round Tower
Bailiúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: Ros Cré – An Cloigtheach
The Round Tower, dating from the 10th Century, is situated northwest of the west gable of St. Cronan's Church. Round Towers, structures unique to Ireland, were very versatile buildings and served a number of different uses, one of which was refuge. A safe haven was particularly needed in Roscrea during the 9th and 10th Centuries, as Viking raids on affluent monasteries were a frequent threat: the Tower was eventually built after one of these attacks. It is recorded that it was damaged by lightning in 1131.
Unexplained Carvings
One of the more remarkable features of the Tower appears on the east window jamb, the carving of a single-masted ship, along with an illegible inscription below it. On the same window jambs can also be seen carvings of an axe and a belted cross. No definitive explanations have been offered to account for the meaning of these decorations.
The Tower's Recent History
The Tower as it is today measures 60 feet, but it originally rose to a height of 80 feet. The top of the tower was demolished in 1798 after the top floor was used by an insurgent sniper, who availed of the prime position it offered to fire at sentries in the barracks. Up until the new Church of Ireland church was constructed, in 1812, the Tower acted as a belfry, and three years later it was inhabited by the Scully family. One of their official tasks was to hoist the Orange flag to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne every July.
Sources – Cunningham, "Roscrea and District"; OPW, "Urban Archaeological Survey"
Read more about:
- St. Cronan's Church
- Franciscan Friary
- The Round Tower
- Mount St. Joseph Abbey
- Roscrea Castle
- Click here for the complete online collection of postcards
Browse the Historical Postcard Collection:
Clonmel - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - The Glen of Aherlow
last updated on: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:32:16 GMT
Tógadh an Cloigtheach sa 10ú hAois agus ta sé suite siar ó thuaidh ón mbinn thiar de tséipéal Chrónáin. Ní fhaightear cloigthithe in aon áit ach Éire, agus bhíodar an-ilúsáideach mar fhoirgnimh. Thug siad faoiseamh ó na Lochlannaigh, a d’ionsaigh na mainistreacha móra sa 9ú agus sa 10ú hAois. Tógadh Cloigtheach Ros Cré tar éis ionsaí den chineál seo. Tá fianaise ann gur bhuail tintreach an cloigtheach sa bhliain 1131.
Snoíodóireacht Gan Mhíniú
Ar leic na fuinneoige thoir sa chloigtheach, tá snoíteán de long le crann seola amháin, maille le hinscríbhinn doléite faoi. Ar an leic chéanna tá snoíteáin de tua agus crois criosaithe. Níl míniú cinnte ar bhrí na ngnéithe seo.
Stair Chomhaimseartha an Chloigthigh
Seasann an Cloigtheach inniu thart ar 60 troithe, ach bhí sé os cionn 80 troithe tráth. Scriosadh barr an Chloigthigh sa bhliain 1798 nuair a d’úsáid naoscaire reibiliúnach an úrlár uachtair chun lámhaigh a scaoileadh ar na fairtheoirí sa dún. Roimh a tógadh an séipéal nua Eaglais na hÉireann in 1812, d’fheidhmigh an Cloigtheach mar chlogás. Trí bhliain ina dhiaidh sin, chónaigh clann Scully ann. Bhí sé mar dhualgais acu siúd brat oráiste a chrochadh gach Iúil mar chéiliúradh ar Chath na Bóinne
Foinsí – Cunningham, "Roscrea and District"; OOP, "Suirbhé Seandalaíoch Urbach"
Léigh níos mó faoi:
Brabhsáil an bailiúchán chártaí poist stairiúla:
Cluain Meala - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - Gleann Eatharlaí
nuashonraithe ar: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:32:16 GMT