The tower was built around the 10th century as a bell-tower for protection from raiders and is known locally as The Steeple. It is 28m tall and is one of the finest of its kind in Ireland. The Annals report that the site was destroyed in 1018 and finally burned in 1147. There is an unusual cross carved stone above the lintel and also eight simple, flat headed windows. A large boulder known as the Witch's Stone, with two sizable bullauns, lies approximately 6m from the tower, slightly to the left front of the doorway.

The tower stands on the site of a monastery founded by St Cronan or Mochua in the 7th century and which was plundered by the Vikings in 832 and burned in 1071.

It was founded in the 6th century by St Molaise also known as St Laisren (Laserian). During its years of operation the monastery was a site of worship and education. It also shared the work of copying and illuminating important manuscripts with many other Irish monastic communities. The most visible and noteworthy of the remains is a well preserved Round Tower rising 30m high and dating from the 12th century. It is one of the few round towers you may actually climb using an internal ladder. On the hilltop sits St Mary's Augustinian Priory which is of the mid 15th century.

It was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Set in a glaciated valley with two lakes, the remains include a superb round tower, stone churches and decorated crosses. The wooded valley contains stunning scenery, way-marked walking trails, if you are lucky you will see some wild deer and goats.

This interesting early Christian site is well worth a visit for its ruined churches and well preserved round tower the highest surviving in Ireland (and leaning 0.5m out of perpendicular). The monastery was founded here in the 7th Century by St. Colman MacDuagh.