A few weeks ago, my family took a trip out to Uxbridge, MA for my sister’s field hockey game. Geographically speaking, Uxbridge is in the Worcester area, close to the Rhode Island border. Since it is about an hour away from my house, we thought that we had to make the most of the trip, so we googled tourist attractions in the area, even if the prospects for a great place were low. There were a few nice hikes, but nobody was excited about that. There were also the world’s largest rosary beads, but what we went for was the Irish Round Tower in Milford, MA.

In 1896, Fr. Patrick Cuddihy of St. Mary’s Parish decided to build a tower inspired by the round stone pieces from his native Ireland to adorn the new cemetery land, which he bought six years prior. The stones are made from Milford Pink Granite, a perfect tribute to the area in combination with the Irish factor. It sits beside a small pond before a hill with what looks like a little sealed-up grotto underneath it.

The inspiration behind the project was to be a place where “the Irish in America will make a pilgrimage to the Irish Round Tower at Milford,” said Fr. Cuddihy. A place for the Irish immigrants to feel at home. A religious site as well as a cultural one. It’s an eye-opening and inspiring story of a man with a vision to help others and enhance the future, and who made it into a reality.

For me, the Irish Round Tower was an amazing way to learn about Irish culture and see

something that could be in Ireland without having to leave the country. I also felt enriched by the experience of learning about Fr. Cuddihy’s vision for the Irish as well as the Catholics in general from the area. Being there, it almost feels like one is in Ireland.

The tower in Milford is one of two in America, the other being in Kentucky. Having a historically and culturally important site nearby is an opportunity not to be missed. So, for the next weekend your family suggests doing a road trip, try asking if the Irish Round Tower in Milford could be a destination on the list.

By Elisabeth Smith ‘28, Staff Writer

28esmith@montroseschool.org