The Clock Tower Gate was built in 1777 to replace the Trinity Castle Gate, one of the original Town Gates, which began to collapse in 1770. This tower has five storeys and a clock cupola on the top.
It was used as a guard tower, but also as a temporary jail for those awaiting their trial or punishment. During the 1798 rebellion several members of the United Irishmen were hanged from its windows.
Along the years it was also used as town clock, town bell and weathercock and eventually as a family home until 1959 when the last occupants left.
The clock cupola has only three clock faces to the northeast, the southeast and the northwest, because in those time it was said that people living (south)west of the tower didn't need to know the time.
Today the Clock Gate Tower is the most famous landmark of the town.
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