This 65 ft round tower was “erected in the year 1785 by George, Earl of Tyrone, to his beloved son, his niece and friend”.
Marcus, the eldest son of 1st Marquess of Waterford was killed while jumping his horse over courtyard paling. He was only twelve. It is difficult to tell who was the niece, since George De La Poer Beresford was the eldest of fifteen children. The friend was Marcus’ French tutor Charles Polier de Bottens who died shortly after the tragic accident.
Over the years, there were people who came to this tower at their darkest moments. It is a mile long walk from the main road. Wish they had turned back.
I pass the entrance to the Curraghmore estate and drive up the hill. Gorgeous pheasant steps out of the grass and walks right in front of my car. I am trying to match the speed of the bird to take pictures.
I park and start walking through the conifer forest. The path is quite muddy – timber felling is in progress and the trucks have damaged the road. I turn around the corner. Here used to be Clonegam school, but it was burned down during the Civil War.
The Tower is inspired by the medieval Irish round tower. They say that the walls are about seven feet thick which I cannot confirm. I would rather say that the distance between the walls is about 10 feet. It was intended to build it 120 feet high, but it was left unfinished at the height of 70 feet.
Hanging around the tower I have a chat with a young man who used to climb to the roof and read books in solitude. Armed with some tips I start climbing the 92 step spiral stairway.
The door offers some light but further up there is a dark stretch until I reach the first window.
It is how I climb – from window to window.
Finally I see the sky. On the top there is a flat roof with a hole in the middle and a low parapet with some stones missing. I don’t dare to climb to the roof. The day is very windy so I just stay on the steps and look around.
I have found a fantastic drone shot by Jamie Malone. It is what the roof looks like.
The view from the Tower is stunning. I see the Curraghmore House and River Suir.
This is Croughaun Hill and Comeragh Mountains.
It is the time to climb down when I realise that it is possible that someone is making their way up right now, oblivious to me being there. I don’t like the thought, but I cannot stay here forever. I start my descent and finally reach the door and quickly get out.
There is a loop walk, but I take the same road because I have spotted some photogenic timber. Next time I will visit Curraghmore House and a special historical object that I want to share with you.
Here are three links to my previous blogs about Clonegam and the De la Poer family that I wrote last year.
https://inesemjphotography.com/2016/10/09/abbeys-and-churches/
https://inesemjphotography.com/2016/10/22/lady-florence-and-clonegam-church/
https://inesemjphotography.com/2016/10/27/circumstance-observes-no-preference/
Have a wonderful weekend!
Making memories 
Bit by bit it is turning into a collaboration between man and nature, truly beautiful sky in its top. ^_^
Thank you! It is a sad place, but the view is beautiful.
What an amazing find these photographs have been for me. In doing some genealogy research, I have discovered that my family can be traced back to this very area in Ireland. I looked on Google Maps to see what the area looked like now, saw the tower, and then your photos. The tower was erected the same year my great, great, great, great grandfather was born. I look at the photographs and feel as though I’ve been taken back in time to my ancestors. Thank you!
That was a good climb rewarded with a stunning view, yet my favourite shots are the ones with pheasants, absolutely gorgeous! 🙂
Thank you Dina! In spring the pheasants become very careless. That one was too busy looking for a date 🙂
The view from the tower is indeed incredible and better not to feel dizzy once you arrive on top!
Thank you! 🙂 I wouldn’t stand on the top, no way. It was so windy out there, so I only stretched my neck to look around and put my camera on the roof.
I think it was a safe move 😉
Towers are fascinating structures, but spiral staircases can be a bit of a challenge, especially descending them if you have big feet! I think that people must have had smaller feet in the past.
Definitely so, Sarah. To be completely honest, I half-crawled to the top using my hands 🙂 On the way down I supported my shoulder against the wall so that I wouldn’t sway.
I feel quite dizzy just from looking at your beautiful pictures, Inese! What a view! So glad to see you’re back, although I might be a little late in discovering that 😉 Was away from blogging for a while too but am looking forward to catch up with everyone 😄 Have a very lovely weekend! 😄 xxxxxxx
I love how you caught the shadows and light within the tower. Enchanting shots as always. I hope you’re well, and I miss you. xo
I love your first photo Inese! Such a dramatic photo and so fitting! What a climb up those dark stairs to such a stunning view!
Inese, I enjoyed the ominous tone you created with the featured photo: B/W stone tower looming in the distance. And those stairs! I rarely get claustrophobic, but I suspect the deeply recessed and distantly spaced windows might do it for me.
Thanks for making the journey for us.
What a beautiful article – the photos are magical! Thank you…
As ever, magical. Thank you so much…
Wow! What an amazing story. I just love each adventure you take and how the photos brings life. Blessings! Diane xxxooo
Very interesting post. Like previous commenter davidprosser, I too wondered about the hole in the sill of the first window.
BTW, it seems like a flashlight would be a good thing to take along on the climb up and back down those stairs! 🙂
There’s no way I would have stepped out on the roof either – from the drone shot it looks as though there is no parapet at all. The views are gorgeous though, and the steps look nice and solid, if a little narrow. Thanks for the trip!!
Those are pretty spooky images inside the tower! I am not sure I would have had the courage to get to the top in those conditions. Enjoyed the post and the pheasant!
Ireland seems so green and so fairytale-like in your pictures… I love it 😉
Excellent job, as always, Inese.
Have a nice week! 🙂
Stunning pictures and I’m impressed with your climb. I encountered a spiral staircase like this in one of the Irish castles I visited and made it to about the seventh step. By then, claustrophobia with hyperventilating and pounding heart had set in and I chickened out 😉