Old Kilcullen Monastery

Old Kilcullen Monastery

The monastery was founded by St. Patrick in the 5th century and the remnants of the High Crosses and Round Tower are indicative of its importance.  The monastery was linked to St Maelruns monastery of Tallaght and adopted the practices of the Ceile De movement.  The Vikings raided the monastery in 932 and it was again burned in 1114.  It was the threat from the Vikings, which led to the building of the round tower in the 9th/10th century.  A  town developed around the monastery with buildings of timber and mud which have since been obliterated by wind and weather.