St. Doulagh's Church

St. Doulagh's Church stands as Ireland's oldest stone-roofed church still in active use, featuring distinctive 12th-century Romanesque architecture combined with Victorian-era additions from 1864.

The church was constructed in the 12th century following Pope Alexander III's 1179 grant of lands to Archbishop Laurence O'Toole, with the current structure consecrated by Archbishop Trench in 1865.

The site preserves Ireland's early Christian monastic traditions through its association with Saint Doulagh, a 7th-century hermit who established an anchorite cell beneath the church.

Guided tours operate from May through September on Sundays between 2:30 and 5:30 PM, with special arrangements available for groups and educational visits throughout the year.

The church houses Ireland's only remaining detached baptistry, an octagonal structure built over a natural spring that has been used for baptismal ceremonies for over eight centuries.

Location: County Dublin

GPS coordinates: 53.41522,-6.17913

Latest update: July 24, 2025 13:09