Tigh Tua | |
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°21′12″N 6°36′47″W / 53.3533°N 6.6131°W |
Public access | yes |
Taghadoe in County Kildare in Ireland is the site of an ancient monastic settlement and round tower. The site includes 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 was used for about 1000 years, but was left in ruins by the 17th century.[3] Most of the burials in the graveyard 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.
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.[citation needed]
The tower was declared a national monument in 1886, and the site is in the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW).[citation needed]