Taghadoe

Taghadoe in County Kildare is the site of an ancient monastic settlement and Round Tower, there is a graveyard and the ruins of a 19th-century church. It is situated 5 km from Maynooth, off the Straffan Road. The name is derived from Teach Tua or House of Tua in Irish, Saint Tua (Ultan the Silent)[1] the abbot of Clonmacnoise, was responsible for founding the monastic settlement here. The site dates back to the 6th Century.[2] The Round Tower used for about 1000 years but was left in ruins by the 17th Century.[3] Most of the burials were in the 17th and 18th century and it was used by Roman Catholics. A John Dillon of Carton had bequeathed £1,000 for the building of a church on the site; the Duke of Leinster was the executor of his will.

Taghadoe

Tigh Tua
Taghadoe church and round tower
Location within Ireland
Monastery information
Other names	Teghto, Tagheto, Taughtoo
Established	6th century
Disestablished	17th century
Mother house	Clonmacnoise
Dedicated to	Tua (Ultan the Silent)
Diocese	Dublin
Architecture
Functional status	Abandoned
Heritage designation	National Monument
Style	Celtic monastic
Site
Location	County Kildare, Ireland (3 km SSW of Maynooth)
Coordinates	53.3533°N 6.6131°W
Public access	yes

The Church which was constructed on the site in 1831 for the Church of Ireland by a donation from the Board of First Fruits of £830,[4] this church was only active for 40 years and while derelict its walls are quite intact.

The Tower was declared a National Monument in 1886, and the site is in the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW).

References

1. Taghadoe - Irish Round Towers
2. Taghadoe Round Tower www.kildare.ie
3. Taghadoe St Patrick's College, Maynooth, website
4. Taghadoe Church Maynooth Archaeology website.