As a lighthouse guiding ships safely into Drogheda Harbour, Mornington Beach's Maiden Tower has a history of its own. It is said that once a woman threw herself from the tower, thinking that her lover had died in the war.
Situated on the south bank of the Boyne Estuary in Ireland, two historic structures stand guard over the waters – an incredible duo that have witnessed centuries of maritime history. Maiden Tower, a 60-meter tower on Mornington Beach. The tower dates back to the 16th century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The Lady's Finger is a solitary stone pillar.
These two nautical markers served as vital navigational aids for ships entering the River Boyne before construction in 1765. Early sailors relied on the sight of these structures to safely navigate the river's winding course.
The Waiting Virgin
Echoes of folklore and legend resound among the historic stones of the tower. One story tells of a faithful woman who was impatiently waiting for her husband to return from the war. Before leaving, the woman made her lover promise that if he survived, he would return on a ship with white sails, and if he did not, the ship would have black sails.
When he finally returned, the sails were black and the woman thought he was dead. Overcome with grief, she tragically fell from the tower. However, it turned out that either the black sail was a mistake or her man used it to surprise her in an unexpected way.
When he saw what happened, he too jumped from the tower to join her in the afterlife.
It is said that since then, people have seen the ghost of a girl standing at the top of the tower, waiting for the ship to tell her that her lover had indeed survived.
It is said that the Lady's Finger, a 3-meter-high obelisk, was erected in memory of the tragic girl who threw herself from the tower. Apparently the term “Lady's Finger” was given and the bride never received a wedding ring.
The Spinning Lady in the Maiden Tower
However, among the historical records and sea stories, one mysterious figure remains – a mysterious elderly woman who lived at the top of the tower in 1819. One spring morning in 1819, a fishing community in a petite village was surprised to see smoke rising from the top of a tower and found an elderly hermit inside.
Spinning yarn under a makeshift sail roof, she wove herself into the tapestry of local folklore, earning her the nickname “the lady in the tower.” The villagers gave her food every day and looked at her as a holy woman.
As the harsh winter of 1821 gripped the country, she left the solitude of the tower to a medical facility and died shortly thereafter. She was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave and no one found out who she was.
The enduring mystery of the Maiden Tower
Public access to the tower continued until the mid-1990s, when a metal grille sealed the elevated entrance to the tower, protecting it from vandalism. In 2003, the metal grate was removed and the tower was desecrated. To thwart further break-ins, a solid metal door was erected to prevent entry.
The Maiden's Tower and the Lady's Finger, steadfast guardians of the River Boyne, still cast their ghostly presence over the waters, bearing witness to centuries of maritime history and the enigmatic tales that float on the whispering winds of time.
Reference:
Mornington, Co. Meath – Wikipedia
Maydenhayes Inspiration | The Maiden's Tower and the Lady's Finger
Image Source: Pixabay.com
