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All the United States Massachusetts Milford Milford Irish Round Tower

Milford Irish Round Tower

This stone tower in a small town's graveyard looks as though it would be more at home in a fairy tale.

Milford, Massachusetts

Added By
Jonny Keen
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Milford Irish Round Tower.   Lpsp05/CC BY-SA 3.0
Milford Irish Round Tower.   Lpsp05/CC BY-SA 3.0
Milford Irish Round Tower.   Johncarneiro~commonswiki/public domain
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Milford Irish Round Tower.   Johncarneiro~commonswiki/public domain
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About

This eye-catching tower is an unexpected sight in the United States, and casts a mystical aura around an otherwise unassuming cemetery.

Round towers were common in medieval Ireland—but not so much in 19th-century America. This one pays tribute to the large number of Irish immigrants who settled in Milford, Massachusetts.

In the late 1800s, local priest Father Patrick Cuddihy built the structure as a memorial to his countrymen who had died in the town, far away from home. The Milford round tower was designed to be a replica of one of the stone watchtowers Father Cuddihy had admired as a young man in Ireland. He hoped that Irish-Americans from around the country would one day make a pilgrimage to Milford to see his creation.

The pink granite tower is tall and thin, with windows at the top where visitors might expect Rapunzel to be waiting for a knight to rescue her. It is believed to be one of the only towers of its kind in North America.

On one side of the tower is a small pond, and on the other is a mysterious cave that looks almost like a catacomb. A boulder lying across the entrance means it is impossible to see what might be inside. Surrounded by trees, the area is a tranquil place to explore.

Related Tags

Towers Architectural Oddities Cemeteries Immigration Architecture

Know Before You Go

You'll find the round tower in St Mary's Catholic Cemetery. It's best to visit during daylight hours. Across the street there is a public park and free parking. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Jonny Keen

Edited By

CDVV86, achesnais, Jws, Kerry Wolfe...

  • CDVV86
  • achesnais
  • Jws
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • e1savage
  • parkerjh
  • pontga99
  • elsamanelsa

Published

November 26, 2018

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  • https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20150524/NEWS/150527860
Milford Irish Round Tower
75 MA-85
Milford, Massachusetts
United States
42.156371, -71.508313
Visit Website
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