Roughly 5kms from Maynooth at Taghadoe, Co. Kildare stands this beautiful 8th Century Round Tower and Church dating from 1831. The Round Tower is the last remnant of a monastic settlement that may have been started by Saint Ultan (Saint Tua in Irish). Saint Tua was also known as Ultan The Silent due to his preference for silent prayer, he died in 770. The tower is capless and reaches almost 20 metres in height. The area of Taghadoe probably derives from House of Tua or Teach Tua in Irish. The entrance doorway to the tower stands about 3.5 metres above ground level. The tower was used for almost 1000 years before being left in ruins by the end of the 18th century. The Church was built at the far later date of 1831 and at this time the base of the round tower was used for storage of coal and a doorway was inserted into the base of the tower (blocked up in 1886 when the tower became a national monument). The rectangular church has four very distinctive and beautiful octagonal turrets on each of its corners. The Church was only used for 40 years before being abandoned in 1871.
GPS: 53.35315, -6.61287
You might be interested in http://www.crsbooks.net/personal/publications.html
The author wrote “The Shady Roads to Clane” , “A Road on the Long Ridge” and another few essays on 1798 around that part of Kildare.
Also there’s mention of Taghadoe and the Sli Mhor in this article http://www.kildare.ie/ehistory/2007/08/st_mochua_c_570630_ad.asp
Never heard of that title at all. Which is kind of odd as I am originally from Kildare, but I guess I haven’t lived there in a long time and at the time I did I was more concerned with leaving the place than visiting it! Huge history in regards 1798 there, interesting print I spotted on the NLI site to do with the 1798 reprisals in Prosperous here http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000182470
Have you heard of reddit? There’s an Irish History sub-reddit that loves this sort of thing, a lot of folks interested in local history and many ex-pats too . In case you don’t know about it you should check it out and maybe post some of your site. Here’s the link, the moderators are always looking for stuff. http://www.reddit.com/r/IrishHistory/
I had heard of reddit but didnt know about that little gem, thanks a million will start posting stuff up there over the weekend 🙂