Bective Abbey was originally founded by Murchard O’Melaghlin, King of Meath, but became exclusively Anglo-Norman from the late 14th century. The process of reducing Irish control of the monasteries was a deliberate political tactic; the Anglo-Norman invaders and Church hierarchy in Rome were concerned at the power and independence of Irish monasteries. This defensive tower is on the south side of the monastery, and was built in the 15th century.