Ireland’s earliest round tower

Clondalkin was originally the site of a 7th-century monastery founded by St Mochua. The annals state that this monastery was plundered in 832AD, The Viking King, Olaf the White, built a fort here in 852AD. and the site was plundered again in 866 AD. The tower stands over 90 feet high and is thought to be one of the earliest examples in the country. The tower has some unusual features including flat granite lintels and a pronounced buttress at its base. The tower has 6 windows and the top 4 points towards the cardinal points of north, south, east, and west. This is also one of only four remaining in County Dublin, the others are located in Swords, Lusk, and Rathmichael. The series of steps was believed to be added to the buttress in the late 19th century. Across the road is the Church of St John and in its grounds are 2 early High Crosses, a granite font, and a well dedicated to St Brigid.