Kildare Round Tower reopened by President after restoration works

THERE WAS a great buzz inside St Brigid’s Cathedral in the heart of Kildare Town ahead of President Catherine Connolly’s arrival to the grand reopening of the Round Tower.

Elected representatives, clergymen, heritage organisations, community groups and schools all gathered on Friday, 28 May for the official reopening, following the completion of significant conservation works on the Tower since 2022.

The ceremony began at 11am in St Brigid’s Cathedral with beautiful choral music pouring out its doors, courtesy of organist Ella Fallon and Newbridge Gospel Choir.

The event featured speeches from Rev Isobel Jackson, Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council Cllr Carmel Kelly, and conservation architect Silvia Mambriani.

Welcoming guests to the cathedral, Rev Isobel Jackson said: “It’s a great honour to welcome you to the ancient place where Brigid walked in the 5th century.” 

She described the Round Tower as a landmark that “has drawn pilgrims and visitors for centuries” and said she was “especially honoured to welcome the President” for the occasion.

Throughout her address, Rev Jackson described the restoration as a “monumental conservation project” which required “extra care and expertise to balance honouring the past and addressing the needs of the present.” She thanked everyone involved in the project, particularly the Round Tower Committee and the Select Vestry, for their commitment and dedication to preserving the historic structure.

Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council, Cllr Carmel Kelly, described the tower as “magnificent” and said it had stood for “900 years looking over the town, the county and the people.” She called the Round Tower a “key feature of local heritage” and said the re-opening “reflects the shared commitment to protecting historical buildings for future generations.” “May it continue to stand as it always has: enduring, watchful and deeply rooted in the story of Kildare,” she concluded.

Conservation architect Silvia Mambriani was then next to speak about the initial urgent need for restoration works, explaining that moisture damage to the roof had caused erosion of the sandstone and debris to fall from the structure.

She said the works began in 2022 and were carried out in phases, with sandstone carvings restored first before roof works were completed during 2023 and 2024.

“It was a work of patience, dedication and participation,” she said.

“It has been a privilege to be involved in the care of such a significant structure,” she added, saying she “felt really lucky” to have worked on the project.

Following the speeches, children from St Patrick’s National School performed a moving rendition of “May the Road Rise to Meet You” before attendees followed President Catherine Connolly to the Cathedral grounds for the official re-opening ceremony.

President Connolly took time to meet and speak with many people outside the Cathedral and was remarked as being very down to earth.

A brief blessing was given by Rev Jackson before the President was presented with a framed photograph of the Round Tower. Guests then joined the President in a countdown as Gaeilge before the unveiling of a new commemorative plaque marking the re-opening of the monument to the public.

A special new exhibition on the history of the Round Tower was also unveiled inside the cathedral, featuring two original Round Tower Visitor’s Books from 1874 and 1882.

Conservation work on the tower began in 2022 and was supported primarily through the Irish Government’s Community Monuments Fund, through the National Monuments Service and administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Grants of €352,000 were awarded through the Community Monuments Fund, alongside an additional €35,000 from Kildare County Council to support the tower’s conservation and long-term care ahead of the Brigid 1500 commemorations.

While funded by the State, the preservation work continued to be coordinated locally by the Round Tower Committee and the Select Vestry at St Brigid’s Cathedral, with the works technically managed by 7L Architects.