This vanished round tower at Dysart represents one of Ireland’s most intriguing “missing” monuments, associated with a site of exceptional historical and literary importance in early Irish Christianity. The foundation, known as Díseart Aonghasa (Dysart Enos), was named after Aonghas of Tallaght, a 9th-century bishop who died around 830 and authored the famous “Féilire Aonghasa” (Martyrology of Aonghas).

Literary and Historical Significance

Aonghas of Tallaght holds a unique place in Irish ecclesiastical history as the author of one of the most important surviving early Irish religious texts. The Martyrology of Aonghas was reportedly begun at his church in Dysart and completed at the monastery of Tallaght in County Dublin. This connection makes the Dysart site particularly significant as the birthplace of a foundational work of Irish hagiographical literature.

The martyrology, written in verse form, represents a remarkable achievement of 9th-century Irish scholarship and demonstrates the intellectual caliber of the monastic community that Aonghas established at Dysart. A round tower at such a site would have been a fitting monument to this center of learning and literary production.

The Beaufort Testimony

The evidence for the round tower rests on the 1792 account of Daniel Beaufort, who wrote that he had personally seen “the remains of a round tower” at Dysart during his visit. Beaufort was a careful observer and antiquarian whose accounts are generally considered reliable, making his testimony significant evidence for the tower’s former existence.

The Question of Misidentification

Some scholars have suggested that Beaufort mistakenly identified the square tower on the west end of Dysart church as a round tower. However, this explanation seems unlikely given that Beaufort’s identification was based on a personal site visit in 1792. As an educated antiquarian familiar with Irish ecclesiastical architecture, he would have been well aware of the difference between square and round towers.

The suggestion of misidentification may reflect modern skepticism rather than historical reality—it seems improbable that someone examining the structures firsthand would confuse a square church tower with the distinctive circular profile of a round tower.

The Vanished Monument

If Beaufort’s account is accurate, the round tower had already been reduced to “remains” by 1792, suggesting it had collapsed or been largely demolished by the late 18th century. The complete disappearance of any visible traces by the time of modern archaeological survey indicates either total destruction or burial beneath accumulated soil and vegetation.

Archaeological Challenge

The “unlocated” status of this round tower presents an ongoing archaeological puzzle. Despite its association with such an important ecclesiastical site and the reliability of Beaufort’s testimony, no physical evidence has been identified within or near the graveyard at Dysart. This absence could reflect several possibilities: complete stone robbing for other construction projects, burial beneath agricultural deposits, or location outside the current graveyard boundaries.

Historical Context

The loss of this tower, if it existed, represents the disappearance of a monument that would have been contemporary with Aonghas himself and possibly built during or shortly after his lifetime. As the tower of the founder of one of Ireland’s most important early religious texts, it would have held exceptional historical and cultural significance.

The case of Dysart’s round tower illustrates the challenges facing Irish archaeological research, where reliable historical accounts sometimes cannot be correlated with surviving physical evidence, leaving tantalising gaps in our understanding of Ireland’s medieval landscape.