The Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Baby Pereppadan, marked the seventh year since the opening of the Brú Chrónáin Round Tower Visitor Centre in Clondalkin on Thursday 11th July by cutting a cake in the shape of the famous 1,000 year tower.
‘I’m delighted to be here today in this wonderful visitor centre to mark the seven years since the doors opened,’ said Mayor Pereppadan. ‘With the help and determination of the local community of Clondalkin, South Dublin County Council was able to refurbish the 19th Century Mill Cottages at the junction of Tower Road and Nangor Road in the heart of this historical village, and bring us the Brú Chrónáin Round Tower experience, which incorporates an interactive visitor centre, monastic gardens, a café, terraced dining area, exhibition space and shop, all under the shadow of the historic Round Tower.’ ‘Over those seven years, the centre has welcomed 500,000 visitors. That’s 500 visitors for every year the famous landmark has been standing’ he said.
Surrounded by local councillors, staff of South Dublin County Council, and members of the public, including guides from Chlann Chrónáin tour guiding group, Mayor Pereppadan cut a specially prepared cake made by a member of the community.
‘In 2017, SDCC developed the Brú Chrónáin Round Tower Visitor Centre to narrate the tale of Clondalkin’s Round Tower, established in over a thousand years ago by St. Mochua. It is one of only four remaining round towers in County Dublin’, said Ralph McGarry, of the Council’s County Promotion Unit. ‘The visitor experience brings to life the monastic origins, Viking legacy, and the bustling 19th and early 20th-century village of Clondalkin. It also explores the social and political roles of round towers in Ireland,’ he said.
The centre regularly hosts temporary exhibits and events and is very popular with school tours. A local tour guiding group Clann Chrónáin offers free tours of the centre during the week and garden tours on weekends. Visitors can also self-guide through the centre by downloading the interactive multilingual guide onto their phone. The app is available in five languages including Spanish, French and German as well as English and Irish.
‘The Brú Chrónáin Round Tower Visitor Centre is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm, with free admission to the exhibition and gardens’ said Ralph. ‘It’s a great place to visit during the summer, and if you have friends or family visiting from near or far, we’d encourage you to drop by, learn about the area’s rich history, and maybe even enjoy a coffee and a great meal in the café.’
To book a free tour guided by a tour guide from Clann Chrónáin, or to arrange a school tour later in the year, visit https://www.dublinsoutdoors.ie/round-tower-clondalkin-village/book-tour-now/. For more information on the Round Tower Visitor Centre in Clondalkin, please visit www.theroundtower.ie. For information on tourism providers in South Dublin County, and various visitor events please visit www.dublinsoutdoors.ie
