Churches, Abbeys & Towers - Co Meath, Ireland

St Columba's Church  Kells, www.meath.ie.  The grounds mark thr original site of the Monastery of Kells.                                               According to the ' Book of Lismore' , King Diarmait or Dermot. High King of                                               Ireland granted to Columba the Dun or Fort  of Kells to establish a religious
                                          community.

St Patrick's Cathedral  Trim  www.discoverireland.ie
                                            St Patrick's Cathedral, which was built in 1803 on an historic site boasting a
                                            15th-century stone tower.  The church was given cathedral status in 1955 and
                                             is reputed to be older than Armagh or Canterbury.

Bective Abbey Navan  www.meath.ie
                                    Although most of the present impressive ruins date to the 15th century, the abbey
                                    was founded in 1147. The abbey was one of the most important monastic sites in the
                                    country, as the Abbot of Bective sat in the Parliment of Pale. Hugh De Lacy was
                                    buried there in 1195, but was eventually reinterred in Dublin. Bective Abbey was
                                    used in the filming of the movie Braveheart, chosen because of it's castle like
                                    qualities.  The ruins are readily accessible to the public.

Donaghmore Round Tower  Navan   www.discoverireland.ie
                                                        The Donaghmore Round Tower is a well- preserved 10th century
                                                         construction situated just northeast of Navan. The settlement includes
                                                         the church and a fine round tower which is still in good condition.

Lloyd Tower  Kells   www.discoverireland.ie
                               The Hill of Lloyd is 3 km North West of Kells. Its most striking feature is an 18th
                               century folly in the form of a lighthouse, erected by the son of the Earl of Bective in his                                  father's  memory