Skreen Church

Standing tall and proud on the summit of Skreen Hill, overlooking the more famous Hill of Tara, is the site of an ancient church associated with St Columba. From the hill there are spectacular views of the plains of the ancient kingdom of Meath. In the 1170s the lands at Skreen were granted to Adam de Feypo, an Anglo-Norman knight originally from Herefordshire. His brother Thomas joined the Cistercian Abbey of St Mary’s in Dublin, and in 1185 Adam granted the church at Skreen to St Mary’s. Adam de Feypo died about 1190 and was buried in St Mary’s Abbey. Little is known of the former Columban church at Skreen, and what survive today are the remains of a large medieval parish church. The most conspicuous feature is the massive bell tower at the west end of the large church. Above the south doorway is a carving of a bishop that probably dates to the 14th century. In the graveyard is a medieval stone cross featuring the crucifixion. Please note that many of these monuments may be on private land and may not be publicly accessible. When setting out to visit monuments please ensure that you wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Access to monuments without Visitor Services may be across uneven ground which may not be suitable for everyone and, in particular, wheelchair users.