PETERSON'S MAGAZINE.
CLONDALKIN ROUND: TOWER.
BY P. H, SELTOR.
In the picturesque village of Clondalkin, which lies about four miles from Dublin, may be seen one of thote ancient round lowers 40 peculiar to Ireland. Half embowered in foliage about ils base, it soare over all, like the trank of some ancient pine, as symmetrical aod almost as tall. This reho of ancient times carries the mind back to the very earliest ages of Erin, when a hundred kings reigned within her borders, and Seaming, extinguished over almost all Europe, formed’a refuge among hier talented sons. ‘More than a thousand years have elupsed since that tower was reared; and the glory of Ireland bas departed; yet still it stands defying storm and time.
The round tower of Clondalkin is based upon a foundation of massive stone work. Its diameter is about fifteen fect, and ils height eighty-four; and it is surmounted by a gonical cap. ‘The doorway is elevated ghove-the ground aboot twelve feel, and faces the East, as in all towers of a similar constrie- lion, Blany apertures, and amalt windows exist in the building. A flight of steps lias, within a few years, been erecied to the entrance, rs well as iad- ders to reach The uppermost story, from which a fine prospect of the rick scenery surrounding the village is visible, with Dublin rearing its proud head in the distance.
The origin of the tower of Clondalkfa, dnd of those and similar to it in other parts of Ireland, is lost in obseurity; and great diversity of opinion exists among the learned as to the purposes of its etection. “The high antiquity of the round tower is proved by the fact that, in the twelfth century, when the British firat invuded the island, they were alrendy considered ancient. ‘A writer cotemporary with those times cir. ctumstantially slescribes thew singulac excetions, but, § as he does not tention for what they were used, the ; conelusion is ircesiaible thal, even al thas period, the purpose fur which they had been built was forgotten. ‘They appear to be a peculiarity of Ireland, aot being found anywhere else, with the exception of two in Scotland, and there only in that district Which, in early ages, was in clase connexion with the sister island. Tradition, however, ascribes the construction of these towers to a celebrated architect who flourished in the sixth century, and who was popularly known as Guban the Seer, and Goban the Builder. Of this individual many corious anecdotes have survived, which, while (hey pourtray his character, also reveal the primitive condition of the people, and are, there- fore, not without « certain air of tru, We have not space, however, for aay of these curious legends here.
Among thé various speculations of antiquarics as to the object of erecting these towers, is ono which refers them to Pagan times, and connects them with the rites of Pagan worship, ‘These antiquaries con- sider them as temples of Basl, dedivated to the wor- sbip of the sun. Tho chief support of this theory is derived from the fact that the round towers are always ‘toon in the vieinity of some ancient church; and it is well known thit the eacly missionaries to Ireland usually chose the site of some Pagan place of worship for their chapels. But thera is no real proof in favor of this idea. Another suggestion fs that they were of even earlier duto, and were Buddbic in their origia. ‘This theoty is sought to be mainiained by a com- parison between the ound towers of Ireland and somewhat siilar erections found in Persia; but the resemblance of the two epecies of erections has never been clearly established, nor was Buddhisin ever the religion of Persia. But the theories which refer these towers to Pagan times appear to be losing ground, and the opinigis of the best antiquiatics cvincides with the poplar tradition, which attributes the rearing of these curious structures o the carly Irish ecclesiastics, who are stipposed to have erected them for refuges in periods of invasions, and for beifries in intervals of peace.
This explanation receives great countenance from the name of these towers in Irish, Clocack, or the House of Bolla, in coptradistinction to Clogas, the Belfry, which would have been their title if they had been employed merely as steeples are now. It in very evident that, in the wild and troubled times of ently Ireland, they were a sort of castle for tbe priest- hood, where, during war, the treasures of-the church could be pale fron rapine. The height of the door from the ground, combined with the feet that the entrance is always inaccessible except in a stooping posture, as Well a8 the solidity of the structure, prove that they were constructed as much for defence as for ” ornament, The windows placed immediately at the
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