Thread: One of the earliest monastic sites in Ireland, Ardmore, Co. Waterford was probably founded sometime in the 5th century AD by St. Declan. This early Irish saint was associated with the Déisi Muman people of Waterford & his missionary work may have pre-dated St. Patrick 
His monastery was built on height over-looking the sea and today it contains a wide range of archaeological features. These include an impressive 12th century round-tower, an early stone oratory, a ruined 12th century cathedral & two inscribed ogham stones
Although containing some earlier fabric, most of the surviving cathedral is 12th century in date and is probably related to work carried out by bishop Moelettrim O Duibh Rathra.
One of its more distinctive architectural features is a Romanesque arcade along the cathedral’s western wall, which contains a number of panels depicting biblical scenes.
Despite being badly worn in places, some of these images can still be discerned, including Adam and Eve, the Adoration of the Magi, the Archangel Michael weighing souls and the Judgement of Solomon.
Inside the cathedral are two 5th/6th century Ogham stones. These are inscribed in an early Irish style of writing that utilised linear lines for letters. The first stone reads ‘of Luguid son of .. the tribe of Nad-Segamon‘, while the second says ‘Amadu‘ (‘beloved’ in Latin)
To the southeast of the cathedral is a small stone building or oratory that is said to contain the grave of Saint Declan. Possibly dating from 9th or 10th centuries AD, it was renovated in 1716 by Dr Thomas Mills, Bishop of Waterford.
An important site of pilgrimage, it was traditionally visited on the saint’s feast day, July 24th. The floor of the oratory contains an opening that is meant to be the final resting place of Declan & pilgrims used to take small samples of soil from the pit as relics of the saint
Possibly the most impressive surviving building at the site is the round-tower. Circa 30m tall, it has four floors & three small windows along its body, with four more windows located at the very top, one at each of the cardinal points of the compass
