Dísert Óengusa Explained

Dísert Óengusa
Other Names:Disert-aengusa, St Aengus's Hermitage, Dysert Aenghusa, Dysert Oenghusa, Desert Oenghus[1]
Order:Culdees
Established:AD 780
Diocese:Limerick
Status:Inactive
Location:Carrigeen, Croom, County Limerick
Coordinates:52.5209°N -8.7447°W
Map Type:Ireland
Public Access:Yes
Embedded:
Embed:yes
Designation2:National Monument of Ireland
Designation2 Offname:Dísert Óengusa Early Medieval Hermitage
Designation2 Number:83

Dísert Óengusa (in Irish pronounced as /ˈdʲiːʃəɾˠt̪ˠ ˈeːŋɡəsˠə/) is a medieval hermitage and National Monument located in County Limerick, Ireland.[2] [3]

Location

Dísert Óengusa is located west of Croom, near the headwaters of the River Maigue.[4] [5]

History

Óengus of Tallaght (Óengus mac Óengobann, Óengus the Culdee, d. 824) is believed to have founded the hermitage in AD 780, leaving it two years later. It was associated with the Culdees.

The monastery is mentioned in the annals for 1033.[6] Some early ruins on the site have been dated to the early 11th century.[7]

The round tower was built in the 12th century. The present church, with antae, dates back to the 15th or 16th century.[8] The church was abandoned in later centuries and fell into ruin.[9]

Local folklore claimed the tower had been erected in a single night by a witch.[10] It was visited and sketched by John Windele in 1833.[11] Restoration work was carried out in 2019.[12]

Remains

The tower is 20.65m (67.75feet) tall with a diameter of 5.28m (17.32feet) and a Romanesque doorway 4.6m (15.1feet) above ground level.[13] The church is a simple rectangle 15.5m (50.9feet) by 5m (16feet).[10]

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Messianic Legacy. Henry. Lincoln. Michael. Baigent. Richard. Leigh. 31 May 2013. Random House. 9781448184675. Google Books.
  2. Web site: With the Saints in Lent (27): Saint Aengus, 11 March. Patrick. Comerford.
  3. Web site: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Celtic studies, history, linguistics and literature. 20 November 2004. The Academy. Google Books.
  4. Web site: Dysert Aenghusa. irelandxo.com.
  5. Web site: Dysert Aenghusa Round Tower. ie.geoview.info.
  6. Web site: Archivium Hibernicum: Or, Irish Historical Records. 20 November 1941. Catholic Record Society of Ireland. Google Books.
  7. http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/NMAJ%20vol%2053%2005%20The%20Church%20Lands%20of%20the%20Diocese%20of%20Limerick,%20by%20Paul%20MacCotter.pdf
  8. Web site: Dysert Oenghusa Church And Round Tower | Attractions | Churches, Abbeys and Monasteries | All Ireland | Republic of Ireland | Limerick | Croom | Discover Ireland. www.discoverireland.ie.
  9. Book: Ó'Carragáin, Tomás. Churches in Early Medieval Ireland: Architecture, Ritual and Memory. 20 November 2010. Yale University Press. 9780300154443. Google Books.
  10. Web site: Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. Royal Society of Antiquaries of. Ireland. 20 November 1873. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. Google Books.
  11. Web site: Clogause na Deesart [Dysert Aenghusa], Carrigan Dysart, Crom [Croom], County Limerick August 1833.
  12. Web site: The Office of Public Works. www.opw.ie.
  13. Web site: Dysert Aenghusa Round Tower and Church.

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