A Murder In The TowerA Murder In The TowerA re-examination of the Irish round towersA re-examination of the Irish round towers

UCD-TCD Postgraduate History Conference,UCD-TCD Postgraduate History Conference,Trinity College Dublin, 25 April 2008Trinity College Dublin, 25 April 2008

Historiography Historiography Round towers were Round towers were

initially thought to be initially thought to be pagan fire-temples, pagan fire-temples, phallic symbols, phallic symbols, watchtowers, beacons, watchtowers, beacons, grave markers, bell grave markers, bell towers and keepstowers and keeps

It was argued that the It was argued that the towers were built by the towers were built by the Phoenicians, and later Phoenicians, and later theories favoured the theories favoured the DanesDanes

Historiography ctd.Historiography ctd. 1717thth century scholar Peter century scholar Peter

Walsh had argued for a Walsh had argued for a Danish origin in 1648, Danish origin in 1648, while in the eighteenth while in the eighteenth century an Anglo-Norman century an Anglo-Norman origin was put forwardorigin was put forward

Renowned scholar and Renowned scholar and antiquarian George Petrie antiquarian George Petrie argued in 1830 for the argued in 1830 for the more plausible Irish and more plausible Irish and ecclesiastical originecclesiastical origin

Petrie’s theory is now Petrie’s theory is now universally accepteduniversally accepted

Historical ReferencesHistorical References First annalistic reference to the First annalistic reference to the

round towers refers to the round towers refers to the burning of the tower of Slane in burning of the tower of Slane in AD 945/950 ‘along with the best AD 945/950 ‘along with the best of bells, the crosier of the of bells, the crosier of the patron saint, many people and patron saint, many people and the fer leigind’the fer leigind’

Last reference in the annalistic Last reference in the annalistic record to a round tower is record to a round tower is made in AD 1238made in AD 1238

Giraldus Cambrensis mentions Giraldus Cambrensis mentions the round towers in his the round towers in his History History and Topography of Ireland: and Topography of Ireland: ‘Turres ecclesiasticas, quae ‘Turres ecclesiasticas, quae more patriae arctae sunt et more patriae arctae sunt et altae, nec non et rotundae’altae, nec non et rotundae’

TimelineTimeline The earliest date for the The earliest date for the

round towers in Ireland is round towers in Ireland is probably AD900 probably AD900

Round towers probably Round towers probably fell out of use after fell out of use after AD1250AD1250

This timeline clearly This timeline clearly suggests an Irish originsuggests an Irish origin

From AD1300-AD1600: From AD1300-AD1600: Round towers fell into Round towers fell into oblivion oblivion

Ecclesiastical BuildingsEcclesiastical Buildings Round towers are Round towers are

always associated always associated with a monastic sitewith a monastic site

Architectural style of Architectural style of the round towers is the round towers is in line with the style in line with the style of the other of the other monastic buildingsmonastic buildings

Irish round towers Irish round towers referred to as referred to as cloigthechcloigthech in the in the annalistic recordannalistic record

Monastic sites would Monastic sites would have needed a bell have needed a bell tower – Irish round tower – Irish round tower only plausible tower only plausible candidatecandidate

How the Irish saved civilization?How the Irish saved civilization?

How the Irish saved civilization?How the Irish saved civilization?

How the Irish saved civilization?How the Irish saved civilization?

Elevated doorway: defence or spiritualElevated doorway: defence or spiritual elelevevatatioion?n? Suggested that the Suggested that the

elevated doorways were elevated doorways were a defensive featurea defensive feature

Elevated doorway: Elevated doorway: emphasis on the sanctity emphasis on the sanctity of the building?of the building?

Only doorways at ground Only doorways at ground level: Scattery Island, Co. level: Scattery Island, Co. Clare and Castledermot, Clare and Castledermot, Co. KildareCo. Kildare

Spiritual protection?Spiritual protection? The monasteries had extensive The monasteries had extensive termonntermonn lands lands The The termonntermonn lands were protected by canon and lands were protected by canon and

native Irish lawnative Irish law Extensive legal system of protection (snadud)Extensive legal system of protection (snadud) Protection of a freeman also applied to his lands Protection of a freeman also applied to his lands

and propertyand property Annals of Ulster: AD745: Six criminals executed Annals of Ulster: AD745: Six criminals executed

for violation of the sanctuary of the monastery of for violation of the sanctuary of the monastery of DownpatrickDownpatrick

Round towers as reliquaries?Round towers as reliquaries?

Annalistic record suggests relics were kept in the Annalistic record suggests relics were kept in the round towersround towers

Importance of relics to the medieval mind should Importance of relics to the medieval mind should not be underestimatednot be underestimated

Round towers as sacred buildingsRound towers as sacred buildings Monasteries in medieval times were carefully laid out, Monasteries in medieval times were carefully laid out,

the round towers can always be found within the inner, the round towers can always be found within the inner, most sacred circlemost sacred circle

Tower almost always located to the west or northwest of Tower almost always located to the west or northwest of main churchmain church

Doorway of tower faces doorway of primary churchDoorway of tower faces doorway of primary church Elevated doorway demonstration of sanctity? Elevated doorway demonstration of sanctity? European cathedrals: private chapels were located on European cathedrals: private chapels were located on

the second floor and accessed via the adjacent towersthe second floor and accessed via the adjacent towers O’Keeffe, 2004: dairthech = wooden church, thus maybe O’Keeffe, 2004: dairthech = wooden church, thus maybe

cloigthech = bell-church? cloigthech = bell-church?

Secular authority and monasteriesSecular authority and monasteries Monasteries functioned Monasteries functioned

as early medieval trading as early medieval trading centrescentres

Major monasteries seem Major monasteries seem to have been situated on to have been situated on important trade routes important trade routes and boundariesand boundaries

Before the 11Before the 11 thth century century Investiture Controversy Investiture Controversy there was no clear there was no clear division of ‘secular’ and division of ‘secular’ and ‘ecclesiastical’ rule‘ecclesiastical’ rule

The Murder of Murchad Ua MaelsechnaillThe Murder of Murchad Ua Maelsechnaill

Political reorganization in 11Political reorganization in 11 thth and 12and 12 thth century Ireland century Ireland

Murchad Ua Maelsechnaill, of Murchad Ua Maelsechnaill, of the Southern Ui Neill, killed in the Southern Ui Neill, killed in the round tower at Kells in the round tower at Kells in AD1076AD1076

His death was recorded in His death was recorded in nearly all Irish annals and in nearly all Irish annals and in the medieval poem the medieval poem Mide Mide Maigen Clainne CuindMaigen Clainne Cuind

Monastery of Kells lay on the Monastery of Kells lay on the border with the rival Ui Neill border with the rival Ui Neill clan Sil nAedoclan Sil nAedo

Murchad ‘treacherously’ killed Murchad ‘treacherously’ killed by the son of Maelan, king of by the son of Maelan, king of GailengaGailenga

The Murder of Murchad Ua MaelsechnaillThe Murder of Murchad Ua Maelsechnaill

ATi, AU and AFM: the murderer was killed immediately ATi, AU and AFM: the murderer was killed immediately after he committed his crime ‘through the miracle of after he committed his crime ‘through the miracle of Colm Cille’ (He had managed to flee the scene Colm Cille’ (He had managed to flee the scene initially)initially)

Kells founded after monks left Iona in AD803/804Kells founded after monks left Iona in AD803/804 Murchad had been king for three days onlyMurchad had been king for three days only Was Murchad in the tower at Kells to be ‘crowned’?Was Murchad in the tower at Kells to be ‘crowned’? Oaths in medieval times would have been sworn in the Oaths in medieval times would have been sworn in the

presence of relicspresence of relics

ConclusionsConclusions Round towers without a doubt Round towers without a doubt

used as bell towers – yet they used as bell towers – yet they were not just ‘service buildings’were not just ‘service buildings’

The location of the tower within The location of the tower within the monastic enclosure the monastic enclosure suggests the round towers suggests the round towers were extremely sacredwere extremely sacred

Enough annalistic evidence to Enough annalistic evidence to prove that the round towers prove that the round towers were used as reliquarieswere used as reliquaries

The presence of Murchad Ua The presence of Murchad Ua Maelsechnaill in the tower at Maelsechnaill in the tower at Kells would suggest that the Kells would suggest that the towers were of considerable towers were of considerable importanceimportance

Important sourcesImportant sources Byrne, F.J. Byrne, F.J. Irish Kings and High-Irish Kings and High-

KingsKings, Dublin: 1973, Dublin: 1973 Kelly, F. Kelly, F. A Guide to Early Irish A Guide to Early Irish

LawLaw, Dublin: 2003, Dublin: 2003 Lalor, B. Lalor, B. The Irish Round TowerThe Irish Round Tower, ,

Cork: 1999Cork: 1999 O’Keeffe, T. O’Keeffe, T. Ireland’s Round Ireland’s Round

TowersTowers, Stroud: 2004, Stroud: 2004 Petrie, G. Petrie, G. The Ecclesiastical The Ecclesiastical

Architecture of Ireland: An Essay Architecture of Ireland: An Essay on the Origins and Uses of the on the Origins and Uses of the Round Towers of IrelandRound Towers of Ireland, Dublin: , Dublin: 18451845

Stalley, R. Stalley, R. Irish Round TowersIrish Round Towers, , Dublin: 2000Dublin: 2000