Irish Walled Towns
Irish Walled Towns Content
The Viking raiders of the ninth century and the Anglo-Norman invaders of the twelfth built defensive strongholds that over the centuries came to enrich the fabric of Irish life.
Publications
This is the Irish Walled Towns publications section. Here you can find all publications, reports and presentations for this heritage area of interest.
Archaeological and Environmental Heritage at Buttevant, Co. Cork
This report is an excellent examination of the medieval walls and other remains that exist along the town’s River Awbeg boundary.
Click here to download publication in PDF format [PDF 4.5MB]
Three Year Action Plan 2011-2013 plus a review of activities 2006-2010
Walls of Clonmel : Fallaí Cluain Meala
This little document provides a nice introduction to the history of Clonmel’s Medieval Town Walls and describes where remains can still be seen today.
The Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN) Constitution
The constitution establishes the parameters through which the Irish Walled Towns Network will operate. The document was formerly adopted at the September 2010 IWTN AGM.
Click here to download the The Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN) Constitution in PDF format [90K]
Talbot's Tower, Kilkenny
Excavations for the City Walls Archaeological Park
This document outlines the history of Kilkenny’s City Walls and describes the archaeological excavations that are being undertaken to permit the development of a new archaeological park for Kilkenny.
Click here to download the Talbot's Tower publication [PDF 1.6MB]
Preparation of National/All-Island Guidelines for the Sustainable Management, Protection, Conservation and Enhancement of Historic Walled Towns in Ireland
The National/All-island Guidelines will aim to formulate aims, objectives and policies in relation to the sustainable management, protection, conservation and enhancement of Ireland’s historic walled towns, to be included within statutory development plans and strategies at a regional, county and local level.
Irish Walled Towns Day Post Event Member Reports
Post event reports from members of the IWTN outlining Irish Walled Towns Day feedback and event details:
Feedback from Members and Comparison of Events 2006 [PDF 4.2MB]
Feedback from Members and Comparison of Events 2007 [PDF.1.6MB]
Irish Walled Towns
Irish Walled Towns by John Givens is richly illustrated with contemporary photographs of important heritage sites, from the massive barbican of St. Laurence’s Gate in Drogheda to a lonely stretch of overgrown town wall and moat in Athenry.
The shape of each medieval town is defined by an illustrated map that indicates the location of existing walls, gates, mural towers, castles, and other structures; it also shows the original wall lines and the sites of other lost components of the walled towns.
Click here to purchase a copy of Irish Walled Towns from Liffey Press.
Medieval Walls of Kilkenny City
Medieval Walls of Kilkenny City outlines the history of the walls, what their function was and how they can be maintained for future generations as well as providing graphic representation of the walls through maps and photographs.
HERITAGE IN YOUR AREA
Select your county from the drop-down list below for more information about heritage projects in your area.