The studio is becoming quite full with round towers of various shapes and sizes from the different class groupings. The round tower is located near the old school building which was vacated in 2010.The monastery began life as Dísert Diarmada, a hermitage founded in 812 by St. Diarmaid. The Vikings plundered it twice in the 9th century and it was burned in 1106. Parts of the medieval church have been incorporated into the present church and a Romanesque doorway (round arched with stone carvings) has been reconstructed near the entrance to the site.
The Round Tower - which as the monastery's bell-tower as well as a secure place for valuables - is unusual, firstly in having its entrance only slightly raised above ground level and secondly in being to the north of the church (Round Towers are normally in the west of churches). It was built with granite blocks and smaller pieces of limestone and is capped by battlements of unknown date. There are two stone arched vaults inside the tower, one over the second story and one at top.
The tree lined avenue looking through to the monastery is particularly beautiful.
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