This is an excellent example of a traditional Irish monastic round tower. The monastery was founded by St. St. Colman Mac Lenene who died in 604.
Although there is evidence of human activity since about 2000 BC. Cloyne really came into its own in 560 when St. Coleman founded his monastery here. Built on a network of caves which are all but impassable it is rumored that in the penal days (late 17th century) priests used a secret underground link from Cloyne House to the Catholic graveyard in order to say mass for the people. Cloyne is a typically Irish town set in the heart of East Cork, with many things to see & do in the area. Unusually for a village, it not alone has a Round Tower but also a cathedral. (The Cathedral has many a famous son in particular Bishop Berkley, after whom the town of Berkeley in California is named, was the bishop of Cloyne for 30 years).
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