opened on 19 October 1857. A January 2012 national newspaper article suggested that Iarnród Éireann was expected to seek permission from the National Transport Authority to close the Limerick–Ballybrophy railway line. An enhanced timetable was operated between February 2012 and January 2013 before services were downgraded again. Features from the town is a Cistercian monastery, Mount St. Joseph Abbey, and a boarding school for boys, Cistercian College. Buildings of note The Round Tower in Church Street is a national monument in state ownership. In addition there are several other buildings and structures in Roscrea listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage including, Damer House, listed as being of special architectural, artistic, archaeological, historical and social interest. Roscrea railway station is listed as being of special architectural and social interest. The railway signal box is listed as being of special architectural interest. Former Quaker meetinghouse listed as being of architectural and social interest. The 19th Century Fancy Fountain now located in Rosemary Square is listed as being of artistic, social and technical interest History Early History & Medieval Period c. 550–1500 Roscrea has historically been an important trading town. The settlement grew around an ancient church or monastery, founded by St. Cronan in the late 6th century. The town is situated strategically in a gap in the hills on one of the great ancient roads of Ireland, the Slighe Dála. It became an important ecclesiastical centre evidenced by the beautiful west gable of a Romanesque church, a 12th-century sculptured High Cross, and a round tower also built during the 12th century. The round tower has a doorway from the ground and is the oldest surviving part of the ancient monastery. The usual conical cap is missing as the tower was shortened by around when it was used by snipers in the 1798 rebellion. The 8th century Book of Dimma, which belonged to Roscrea monastery, is preserved in Trinity College, Dublin. It contains a copy of the Gospels and a Missa Infirmorum, and is enclosed in a shrine of bronze with silver plates ornamented with Celtic interlacing. In 1812, the Romanesque church was demolished with the exception of the west gable and its stones used for the erection of the current St. Cronan's parish church of the Church of Ireland at the same site. The church was designed by the Roscrea architect James Sheane and restored under the supervision of Sir