Signposted across the road from the Kells Priory car park, 2.5km south of Kells, are a 29m-high round tower, an ancient church and a Celtic high cross, said to mark the grave of a 9th-century Irish high king, Niall Caille. He apparently drowned in the Kings River at Callan during the 840s while attempting to save a servant, and his body washed up near Kells. His final resting place lies outside the church grounds, as he wasn't a Christian.
Kilree Round Tower & High Cross
Counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow & Kilkenny
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.24 MILES
The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland's most spectacular historic sites: a prominent green hill, banded with limestone outcrops, rising from a grassy plain…
9.59 MILES
Ireland's second-largest medieval cathedral (after St Patrick's in Dublin) has a long and fascinating history. The first monastery was built here in the…
9.16 MILES
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29.54 MILES
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1.29 MILES
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27.52 MILES
One of Ireland's most magnificent landscaped gardens, Altamont covers 16 hectares on the banks of the River Slaney. Carefully selected plantings are…
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19.13 MILES
Housed in a stunning modern structure that incorporates several medieval buildings and part of the city wall in its basement (all on display), this museum…
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19.16 MILES
This large modern complex combines a retail shop and cafe with a factory offering a 90-minute tour that shows how world-famous Waterford crystal is…
Nearby Counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow & Kilkenny attractions
1.29 MILES
This fortified Augustinian monastery is the best sort of ruin, where you can amble around whenever you like, with no tour guides, set hours or fees. Most…
3.05 MILES
The nationally renowned Jerpoint Glass Studio is housed in an old stone-walled farm building, where you can watch workers craft molten glass into…
4.3 MILES
Jerpoint Park is a working farm on the site of a 12th-century medieval town, where 35-minute guided tours (10.30am and 2.30pm) use cutting-edge…
4.38 MILES
Goatsbridge trout is sold across Ireland and beyond, and here you can visit the source. Guided one-hour tours of the fish farm show you the ponds and…
4.4 MILES
At this 73-hectare farm, children can pet goats, cuddle rabbits, feed lambs, turkeys and ducks, navigate a maze (in the former barn), play crazy golf and…
4.71 MILES
One of Ireland’s finest Cistercian ruins, Jerpoint Abbey was established in the 12th century, with the tower and cloister dating from the late 14th or…
6.81 MILES
About 3km north of Thomastown, east of the R448, is a small, ruined 13th-century church and Norman tower, signposted 50m off the road. The church contains…
7.55 MILES
Water from Ballykeefe's 80m-deep limestone aquifer is used to make whiskey, gin, vodka and poitín at this rural distillery, whose farm grows its own…