The Vikings are coming!!!
It wasn't much fun being a monk in 10th century Ireland. What with the getting up at 5:45am, the hard work growing all your own food, medieval diseases by the score and of course falling foul of pillaging Viking. About 5 miles from where I grew up is a stone tower, all that remains of a thriving medieval monastery. Oddly I'd never actually visited the tower until the other day. The monastery was burnt to the ground in the 12th century and all that remains is the well preserved tower. Historians think that the tower, built around the 10th century was used to protect against Viking raiders or as a bell tower similar to those appearing across continental Europe at the same time.
In the 9th century many of Ireland's future cities like Cork and Dublin were founded by Vikings initially as trading and raiding posts, so a Viking raid was a real threat.
Viking ships sailed the seas between Ireland and England with impunity as they controlled much of the territory in Northern England, in the North of Scotland, the Isle of Man and much of the South and West coasts of Ireland. The Viking age in Ireland lasted from 800 until the arrival of the Normans, who in their own way were just more Vikings with better marketing. The word Norman comes from Norseman or North Man. They swept through England and Wales in 1066 and arrived in Ireland a century later bring an end to the age of the Vikings.
Anyway. back to the Antrim round tower. It's in remarkable condition given that it has been around for over a millennium. The entrance door is around 2 meters above ground level for protection and would most likely have been accessed by a ladder. It has a well preserved celtic cross carved above the door.
This picture shows the door on the left hand side of the 28 metre high tower and not far away is a mysterious stone with two bowl shaped depressions. This is called the witches stone according to local legend. According to tradition the local witch was not happy about the tower being built and she jumped from the top of it leaving depressions when her elbow and her knee hit the rock. These stones are not uncommon at religious sites and are know as 'Bullauns'.
Bullaun stones were once thought to be fonts for baptising the local pagans, but the latest theory is that they were used as a mortar for grinding grain or herbs.
Historically the monastery was linked to the Abbey at Bangor in Co. Down and in fact after a Viking raid on Bangor the remains of Bangor's founder St. Comgall were moved to Antrim for safe keeping.
The monastery was destroyed once in 1018 and finally burned to the ground in 1147.
Man that thing is impressive! So many people had to get hurt building that thing. The stone will last forever and its obvious that it's constructed well. Hey thanks for the upvote on my last post too! I appreciate it.....thanks for check out my blog brother.
Thanks man. Looks like Steemit is on the up in Colorado Springs. We have our monthly Dublin meetup next weekend.
Hey, you're back! ^^
So happy to see you haven't vanished for good. :)
Thanks @Josie2214, just taking a break due to the somewhat hectic nature of work. I'm hoping to post more regularly now again.
Understandable. Was just worried there for a second. :)
p.s. this line totally cracked me up:
"Normans, who in their own way were just more Vikings with better marketing."
xD
It was going to be "Normans, who in their own way were just more Vikings who had learned a few manners from living in France for half a century."
I'm glad you went with the Vikings with better marketing after all. :D It's just such a cherry on top. :D
Off topic - How are you lately, though? Thank you for your generous upvotes and saving my posts from the miserable 0.01 category, but I feel like I miss having my steemit buddy around. Do let me know if you need a gentle nudge to stay "on track" here. ;)
Thanks @Josie2214, just the usual distractions of work and life getting in the way. A little nudge now and again helps, thanks!!
You chose correctly.
Stunning images. We have a well-preserved round town here in Dublin - Clondalkin - but I have never seen the Antrim Round Tower. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks @harlotscurse. You should try to make it along to the Steem meetup this weekend, it would be great to catch up with you.
Now I'm no longer going to make it tonight, perhaps next time...
DAAAMN MAN tha is really dope post ! :D keep em comming Bro i followed u up :D
WELCOME TO THE #BROARMY ! :D
Great shots and story. I posted a single black and white shot of the tower in Ardmore for a photo challenge a month or so ago which you might find interesting:
https://steemit.com/monomad/@brightongreg/monomad-week-8-buildings-monks-round-tower-ardmore-ireland
That's a nice picture @brightongreg. These things are hidden gems, all typically 1000+ years old and must be close to the oldest buildings in the country, but they seems to be pretty much ignored by everyone.
Thanks! As I mentioned in my post if we hadn't wandered off the main road to find pottery we would never have discovered it!
It's amazing what you find when you take the road less travelled...
I took the road less travelled once and wasn't heard from again for a week.
Very good post, Max, I guess entry is banned nowadays due to health and safety.
Lol, no doubt!!
Dia dhuit! Very accurate post! Your writing made me think of my visit to Monasterboice Monastery, near Mellifont Abbey, there also a round tower survived, but not in such a good condition as the Antrim one.
I've driven past the sign for it many's a time on my way from Belfast to Dublin. I always seem to be in such a rush. I'm heading down to Dublin next weekend for the Steem meetup, so I might give myself an extra hour if the weather is good.
It's worth! Just started blogging about my visit in Ireland, have a look on it if You are free for a minute 😉:
https://steemit.com/travel/@piaristmonk/visiting-all-over-the-irish-cistercians-monasteries-part-1
Hey, keep them coming you have a very unique perspective!
This was a really nice post. Nicely done, well structured. Definitely going to lookout for your future posts. Thanks for sharing.
Hey thanks @firepower much appreciated.
I love reading about history and seeing actual sites where it happened. It's amazing the height and size of the tower.
...and the fact that it is still standing 1100 years later...
Very cool shots! I love this kinds of stuff. Thanks for sharing with us.
You're welcome @piyushkansal