Cloyne brings together the history of an early Christian monastic settlement, a round tower, a medieval cathedral and a cave system just outside the village. It is also home to memorials to the sportsman Christy Ring. This makes it possible to choose a stay in Cloyne based on specific interests: architectural and church history, archaeological finds or the distinctive landscape in the surrounding area.
Round Tower and Early Monastic History
The round tower is one of Cloyne’s defining historic buildings and one of only two surviving round towers in County Cork. The monastic site is still home to the tower and a pre-Reformation cathedral. St. Colman founded his own monastic settlement in Cloyne around 560 AD. The round tower, too, is associated with a monastic foundation believed to have been established in the 6th century.
The cathedral’s history is associated with a distinct period: in the late 6th century, St. Colman founded an early Christian religious establishment on this site, on land granted by the King of Cashel. St. Colman’s Cathedral stands on Church Street in the historic East Cork village of Cloyne. It was built around 1250 on older foundations; parts of the present building date from the 13th century. The cathedral remains an active church. Visitors can view the exterior of the round tower, but it is not currently possible to enter it. Check the access arrangements again before your visit.
Cathedral, Churchyard and Finds
A churchyard with old gravestones surrounds the cathedral. Inside is a marble memorial to George Berkeley: a recumbent statue in the Italian style, created by Irish sculptor Bruce Joy. The Cross of Cloyne was excavated on the cathedral grounds around 1885. It is made of gilt bronze and dates to the 11th or 12th century. Together, these different remains give Cloyne’s history several distinct layers, from the early Christian foundation to the medieval cathedral and archaeological finds.
A pair of Early Bronze Age gold sun discs is also associated with Cloyne. The discs were discovered in the area and are now in the National Museum. Cloyne is listed in an archaeological overview of early Christian sites in East Cork for its tall round tower and medieval cathedral. Both individual surviving buildings and finds from different periods are central to understanding the site.
Christy Ring and the Cave System
Cloyne is Christy Ring’s hometown. A nine-foot bronze statue commemorates him, and the ash-grove grounds of Ros Uí Rinn are also dedicated to Christy Ring. These features add a distinct dimension to the village alongside its church and archaeological themes: they commemorate a specific person, rather than the architectural history of the cathedral or round tower.
Just outside Cloyne is an extensive, complex cave system. It extends across around seven acres beneath the surrounding land. This natural feature complements the historic themes in the village. When choosing Cloyne for a stay, you can first decide whether you are most interested in its surviving church buildings and their history, finds associated with the area, the memorial to Christy Ring or the nearby cave system. These different themes can be considered as separate reasons to visit, without suggesting that they form a single route.
Discover more destinations: Glanworth, Carrigaline, Riverstick, Shanagarry, Glantane, Fermoy, Tracarta, Carrigrohane.
For the main travel overview: Cork.
