A Derry priest has proposed that an ancient monastic tower that once stood in the city be re-constructed in time for the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of St Columba.Father Roland Colhoun said his idea is that the design of the tower would be “faithful as far as possible to the tower in the ancient monastery.”
The original tower was built in the 1100s, fell into ruin after four hundred years, but it gave its name to St Columba’s Church, known locally as the Long Tower church.
Fr Roland Colhoun, who is the Long Tower church’s administrator, said tourists ask him where they can find the tower.
“One day we would like to be able to point it out to the visitor and say proudly, 'here it is’,” he remarked.
Fr Roland Colhoun, who is the Long Tower church’s administrator, said tourists ask him where they can find the tower.
“One day we would like to be able to point it out to the visitor and say proudly, 'here it is’,” he remarked.
He added that re-building a tower would be a fitting way to mark the next big Columban occasion, the 1500th birthday of St Columba, which will fall on December 7, 2021.
Fr Colhoun said he raised the suggestion with parishioners a few months ago and asked them to consider the idea.
Fr Colhoun said he raised the suggestion with parishioners a few months ago and asked them to consider the idea.
"The idea won instant favour with the people, with a chorus of parishioners giving their approval," he said.
He has even received unsolicited donations towards building the tower and said these have been lodged and will be ring-fenced until the proposal can come to fruition.
“It would be a restoration of the original site, dedicated as it was to religious life at the heart of the community for many centuries,” he explained.
He has even received unsolicited donations towards building the tower and said these have been lodged and will be ring-fenced until the proposal can come to fruition.
“It would be a restoration of the original site, dedicated as it was to religious life at the heart of the community for many centuries,” he explained.
The Long Tower gets its name from the round stone tower which stood in the old monastery and to rebuild it would be an endeavour to return the district to its roots and give renewed authenticity to the historic site."
One early history book records that the ancient monastery had a beautiful silver bell that had the “sweetest toned in the land.”
Several early ecclesiastical sites in Derry had towers that have long since disappeared, but St Columba's was called the Long Tower because it was the highest.
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One early history book records that the ancient monastery had a beautiful silver bell that had the “sweetest toned in the land.”
Several early ecclesiastical sites in Derry had towers that have long since disappeared, but St Columba's was called the Long Tower because it was the highest.
SIC: CIN