Cloigtheach Round Tower

Situated in a graveyard (CL025-091002-) just 2m NW of the Romanesque church (CL025-091001-) at Dysert O’Dea. The much ruined remains of a round tower surviving on one side to a height of c. 18m and narrowing as it rises. It is 18.5m in circumference at base (diam. c. 5.89m) and its walls (T 1.25m) are composed of roughly coursed limestone blocks. A round-headed doorway with inclined jambs at E (Wth 0.95m) is 2m over external ground level and is well preserved. A single ogee-headed window is close to the top of the wall at NW. There is a rebate over the ground floor. A breach to NW at ground level, supported by a pillar or masonry may represent a late entrance, introduced when the medieval window was installed in the upper wall. The external wall near the breach displays evidence of burning. This is a national monument in State care, no. 16. (Westropp 1894, 155-6; Barrow 1979, 60-61; Ó Murchadha 1993, 36-42; Lalor 1999, 111-12) The following images are uploaded: CL025-091003-_01.jpg Round tower from E. CL025-091003-_02.jpg Round tower from S showing church adjacent. CL025-091003-_03.jpg Round tower from NE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 7 September 2017

The Cloigtheach Round Tower at Mollaneen was built in the 10th or 11th century, likely by a monastic community associated with the nearby Romanesque church of Dysert O’Dea. It is a classic example of early Irish monastic architecture and is dedicated to St. Dympna, reflecting the church's dedication and its significance as a religious and defensive structure in the medieval period.