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Mount Sandford Castle

Mount Sandford Castle, also known as Sandford Castle, is a very well hidden historic castle seen only by those studying the surrounding woods of the peaceful village of Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny. The castle itself takes a bit of walking to get to but the serene walk through the woods is well recommended. To see the castle from the village you will have to navigate your way along the little walkway under the right-hand side of the bridge in the center of the village and peer into the high surrounding woods as fig.1 and fig.2 shows.

“This folly probably dates from the late 18th Century. It consists of a fanciful rubble Gothic castle. It is situated on the riverside drive just south of the main demesne. The site affords views over the river Nore and valley and the Inistioge Bridge.” – [www.askaboutireland.ie]

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Killamery Church

St. Goban Find is reputed to have been the founder of the original monastery here. Not far from the modern ruined church stands the fine High Cross which has been dated to the 9th century. Both cross and base are richly ornamented with a variety of geometric motifs. The west face of the cross has a stag-hunting scene, a chariot-procession and panels possibly representing the Lord Sanctifying the Seventh Day, and Adam and Eve after expulsion from Paradise. The east face is largely decorated with serpents and marigolds. At the end of the north arm of the cross are four scenes arranged in a square, probably illustrating the life of St. John the Baptist, while the south arm has Noah’s Ark. On the west side of the expanded butt of the cross is an inscription doubtfully read as OR DO MAELSECHNAILL ( a prayer of Maelsechnaill) – perhaps the High King (846-862). the cross had a capstone which was used locally as a cure for headaches!. – [Credit: www.goireland.com]

Killamery High Cross

Situated in an old graveyard in Kilkenny is the High Cross of Killamery one of the western Ossory group of crosses. The cross stands at 3.65 metres high and the west face of the cross bears most of the figure sculpture. The east face pictured right, is decorated with three marigolds on the shaft and has a boss in the centre of the head surrounded by intertwining serpents with an open mouthed dragon above the boss. The cross is known as the Snake-Dragon cross. The cross has a gabled cap-stone and the narrow sides have double mouldings. At the end of the southern arm of the cross there is a panel depicting Noah in the Ark and the end of the northern arm features four scenes centered around John the Baptist. There is also a worn inscription on the base of the western side of the cross which is said to read as ‘OR DO MAELSECHNAILL’ a prayer for Maelsechnaill. Maelsechnaill was the High King of Ireland from 846 to 862.

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Tullaherin Monastic Site

“Located about 15 kilometres south of Kilkenny near Bennetsbridge is Tullaherin Church and Round Tower.
This is a 9th Century well preserved six storey round tower, the top storey originally had eight windows. Tullaherin is the site of continuous religious worship for well over a thousand years.

It is claimed by many as the burial site of Saint Kieran and the fine round tower is visible from many miles away.

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Kells Priory

“Kells Priory is one of the largest and most impressive medieval monuments in Ireland.

The Augustine priory is situated alongside King’s River beside the village of Kells, about 15 km south of the medieval city of Kilkenny. The priory is a National Monument and is in the guardianship of the Office of Public Works.

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Kilree Round Tower

“South of Kilkenny City and close to the town of Kells, stands Kilree High Cross and Round Tower which is believed to age from the 9th century. A badly weathered sandstone cross standing at 2.75 metres high, most of which is covered with bosses and geometrical motifs. The East face bears a hunting scene on the arms. The ends of the South arm have some figure sculpture but these are difficult to interpret. On the West face is probably an Adoration of the Magi and maybe Daniel in the Lions den. There is a tenon joint still visible so more than likely the cross was fitted with a capstone.

This old monastic site is in the middle of a cow field with the cross standing at the far end of the Field. The most dominant feature of this site is the round tower.

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Aghaviller Monastic Site

“Aghaviller – from Áth an Biolair (Ford of the Water-cress)

Three monuments, a Round Tower, a church and a holy well, mark the site of this ancient monastic foundation. Only the lower part of the Round Tower – the monastery’s bell tower – survives. The original, round-arched doorway, is placed high above ground level to make the structure more stable. A lintelled doorway has been broken into the bottom of the tower in more recent times. The tower has a square base, an unusual feature, which is only paralleled at nearby Kilree.

The rectangular church dates from at least the 12th century, but it was modified in the 13th century, and in the late 15th century a massive tower was erected over its chancel (the section of the church where the altar was sighted).

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