Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRound tower
- Date or period mentionedEarly Christian
What to look for
- Church beside
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
Early Christian church associated with Aonghas of Tallaght who gave his name to this foundation known as Díseart Aonghasa anglicised as Dysart Enos. Aonghas was a ninth century bishop who died c. 830 and was author of Féilire Aonghasa (Martyrology of Aonghas) which was reputedly started at his church in Dysart and finished in the monastery of Tallaght, Co. Dublin (Ó Riain 2011, 79).
Full archaeological record 169 words
Early Christian church associated with Aonghas of Tallaght who gave his name to this foundation known as Díseart Aonghasa anglicised as Dysart Enos. Aonghas was a ninth century bishop who died c. 830 and was author of Féilire Aonghasa (Martyrology of Aonghas) which was reputedly started at his church in Dysart and finished in the monastery of Tallaght, Co. Dublin (Ó Riain 2011, 79). Unlocated round tower inside or in close proximity to the graveyard (LA013-059003-) at Dysart. In 1792 Daniel Beaufort (1792, 139-40) wrote that in Dysart were the remains of a round tower which the author had seen at this time. It has been suggested that Beaufort mistakenly identified the square tower on the W end of Dysart church (LA013-059001-) for a round tower (SMR file). This seems unlikely as the identification of the round tower was based on a personal visit to the site by Daniel Beaufort in 1792. The precise location of this possible round tower in the townland of Dysart has not been identified.
References
- Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 2 October 2014 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Laois. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
Aonghas was a ninth century bishop who died c. 830 and was author of Féilire Aonghasa (Martyrology of Aonghas) which was reputedly started at his church in Dysart and finished in the monastery of Tallaght, Co. Dublin (Ó Riain 2011, 79).
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Visitors' notes
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Around Dysart Round Tower
Other heritage nearby
- Dunamase CastleCastle · 2.2 km
- Timogue ChurchAncient church · 4.8 km
- Old Saint Peter's Church, PortlaoiseAncient church · 4.9 km
- Timahoe ChurchAncient church · 6.5 km
- Timahoe CastleCastle · 6.6 km
- Oughaval ChurchAncient church · 6.7 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 15 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Carrigmeal Woodlands Loops - Milo's CircuitWalking Trail · 1.6 km · nearest point 0.6 km
- Carrigmeal Woodlands Loops - Tir na nÓgWalking Trail · 0.9 km · nearest point 0.6 km
- Carrigmeal Woodlands Loops - Sheep's Walk TrailWalking Trail · 1.1 km · nearest point 0.8 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- OughavalForests · 7.2 km
- Carrick WoodForests · 14 km
- Timahoe Esker Nature ReserveNature reserves · 5.0 km
- PortlaoiseWalled towns · 4.8 km
- Roundwood HouseHistoric stays · 20 km
Other attractions nearby
- Rock of DunamaseHistoric Houses and Castle · 2.2 km
- Stradbally Hall and DemesneHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.2 km
- Timahoe Round TowerHistoric Houses and Castle · 6.6 km
What's on nearby
- Leaves Festival: Women's Voices in Commercial Fiction2026-11-06 · 13 km · free
- Pa Sheehy – The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-13 · 4.8 km
- Dirty DC – AC/DC Tribute2026-11-20 · 4.8 km
Excavations nearby
- 03E0905 Site P Ballydavies, County LaoisRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 3.6 km
- 03E0966 Site B Ballydavis , County LaoisRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 3.8 km

