Taghmon Church

Taghmon Church is a fortified church in Crookedwood with a distinctive four-story tower and barrel-vaulted roof. The outer walls feature reinforced bases that extend along the perimeter, showing the sturdy construction typical of these medieval defensive structures.

The site originated as a monastery founded by Saint Fintan in the 7th century. The current building dates to the 15th century and was plundered in 1452.

The walls display carved ecclesiastical heads and a Sheela-na-gig figure above a north-facing window. These stone carvings show the craftsmanship that went into decorating medieval Irish churches.

The site sits in a rural location and requires a car to reach from Mullingar. Head on the N4 to junction 17, then follow R394 and turn onto L1618 to find it.

The four-story tower contains residential areas with a fireplace, window seats, and an advanced medieval water drainage system. These features show it served as a livable dwelling, not just a defensive fortification.

Location: Crookedwood

Location: County Westmeath

GPS coordinates: 53.60090,-7.26643

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:23