Dalkey Island Church

Dedicated to Saint Begnet, this church sits on the uninhabited Dalkey Island, and is believed to have originated out of a timber structure built in the 9^th or 10^th century.

The site was built of coursed granite, with the side walls reaching beyond the gable wall, indicating that a loft once existed above the church.

A 1958 excavation revealed decorated tiles from the medieval period, as well as the burial of eleven people in the nearby graveyard. The belfry was a later addition to the church. The holy well within the grounds is said to cure illnesses.

In the 1800s, the church was used to house the builders working on the Martello Tower, which was created to act as a defence against a potential Napoleonic attack.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014