National Heritage Week 2024 – “Tour Round the Tower” at Timahoe
Laois PPN were delighted to welcome Laois PPN Member Groups to Timahoe, Co. Laois for a “Tour Round the Tower” event held during National Heritage Week 2024. A fantastic opportunity to showcase a special Heritage Site in our County, the remarkable Timahoe Round Tower is one of the finest examples of a restored Round Tower in Ireland.
Local Timahoe man Roghan Headen provided attendees with a guided tour and shared his historical knowledge of how Timahoe Round Tower was built in the 12th Century, on the site of a religious community founded by St. Mochua around 600 A.D. St. Mochua was a warrior who converted to Christianity. Located in the picturesque Village of Timahoe, the Round Tower rises almost 96 foot high and is more than 57 foot in diameter at its base, on little to no foundation. The Tower is not perpendicular, as it tilts slightly by 3 foot. The main reason for the entranceway being built above ground level was to maintain the structural integrity of the building rather than for defence due to the tower being built on very little foundation.
Mochua’s Desk on the site is a sculpture depicts Saint Mochua and his three pets in a famous story about the Saint. It tells the story of the rooster who woke him, the fly that landed on the word in a prayer book at which Saint Mochua paused, and the mouse who nibbled his ear if he fell asleep while praying.
Timahoe Round Tower also has a rare carving on the bottom right-hand side of the entranceway of a Sean Na Gig a male version of the more commonly known Sheela Na Gig. There are less than a handful of these male carvings in all of Ireland.
Roghan Headen said “It is fantastic that Timahoe Round Tower was represented during Heritage Week 2024, and I would like to thank Laois PPN for holding their Heritage Week 2024 event here at Timahoe Round Tower. Thank you to everyone for attending the event, and I would also like to thank Laois County Council and The Heritage Council for their ongoing support with assisting in the preservation of the site and Round Tower.”
The tour was followed by tea and scones for attendees at the Timahoe Heritage Centre café ‘Tower and Bean’. Tower and Bean café is opened at weekends 10am to 11am and is ran by volunteers.
Dan Bergin, Laois PPN Co-Ordinator, said “Laois PPN wish to express a special thanks to Roghan Headen from Tigh Mochua Le Cheile for the guided tour. Timahoe Round Tower is a special Heritage site and this was shown by the large crowd in attendance. There was a fantastic array of events to celebrate National Heritage Week 2024, Laois PPN wish to commend Laois Heritage Office, Laois County Council and the Community Groups who organised these events.”
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