The church and the burial ground surrounding it occupy the site of the original Diseart of St Dermot. The original 9th century Celtic church which existed at the same time as the round tower and high crosses, was dedicated to St Dermot, the Culdee anchorite and was replaced in the middle of the 12th century, by church of Hiberno Romanesque design. The only part of it to survive is the round headed doorway or Arch with its chevron or dog tooth decoration. The new church was dedicated to St James. In the 15th century the south aisle was added th the church. Much of this church was destroyed by the wars of the 1530's and most particulary, 1641. After receiving a grant of 300 pound from the Board of First Fruits, the parish church was repaired and extended westwards.

The Tower

The Round Tower stands on the north side of St. James church, to which it is attached by an ancient narrow and high passage 8’ in length. The masonry consists of rough unworked granite boulders. The spaces between them are filled up with common quarry stores embedded in the mortar. The height of the tower is 66.5’ and the walls at the base are 3.5’and are inclined upwards.