dysert o dea

The church and Round Tower stand on the site of an Early Christian monastery founded by St. Tola who died between 733 and 737. Where the church stands there was a 12th century Romanesque nave-and-chancel church with a plain chancel arch and a wonderfully decorated west doorway above which was an ornamental lancet window. Three narrow lancet windows were inserted in the east gable early in the 13th century.

Some considerable time later the church must have fallen into decay. Possibly as late as 1683, when some of the corner stones of the church were used as a base for the re-erection of the High Cross in the adjoining field to the east, the church was reconstructed in its present form. The lancet window in the west gable was incorrectly replaced roughly in its original position; the Romanesque doorway, with its beautifully carved geometric motifs, foliage and almost Mongoloid human masks, was inserted into the south wall, probably along with fragments from another doorway possibly from Rath some two miles away, and the chancel (parts of which may still be original) reconstructed to its 13th century state.

Near the outside of the door is placed a medieval grave slab.