Dysert O’Dea History of Dysert O’Dea The Church & Tower The High Cross Bibliography Additional Links

History of Dysert O’Dea St Tola founded a monastery here in the seventh or eight century. The present church on the site is a late Medieval reconstruction of an earlier, Romanesque building whose magnificent west doorway is incorporated in the south wall. The finely carved motifs of the arch include geometric designs and unusual human masks. Close behind the north wall of the church is a shattered Round Tower built in the twelfth century. On rising ground not far to the east of the church is an interesting High Cross. It also dates from the twelfth century and comes right at the end of the Celtic High Cross series. It is of the ringless type found elsewhere in Co. Clare, and is elaborately decorated with interlace and geometric designs, as well as figurative panels in high relief. An inscription on the base records that it was repaired in 1683 by a member of the O'Dea family. Back to Home

The Church & Tower At the site of Dysert O'Dea is a round tower, a church, and a high cross, and was dedicated to St. Tóla, who lived in the 8th century. The 12th century site is probably located on the Early Christian monastery that St. Tóla founded. The Romanesque nave and chancel structure has a decorated south doorway, and a plain arch over the chancel. The south door has carved cat heads, beak heads, and human heads on the voussoirs. The animal heads have roll mouldings in their mouths. The Viking influence can be seen on the interlaced snakes on the jambs of the door and the west window. The outer jambs of the south doorway have "angular cusps" and deeply incised scalloping. The almost detached shafts of the doorway are also decorated with foliage, zig-zags, and interlace; and they support carved abaci capitals. The window at the west end has carved mouldings and lancets, as well as the previously mentioned snake ornament. In the 13th century, the east gable was added with its three narrow lancets. In the north-west corner of the site are the leftovers of a 12th century round tower. The tower was fortified in the 16th century with a window in the west wall and narrow slits. Back to Home

The High Cross In the east field of the site is a 12th century high cross that stands over 9 feet in height, not including the base, and is made of Clare limestone. The cross does have a pyramidal capstone, but no ring. The Viking-influenced interlace snakes are also found on the cross, at the plinth and the base. This high cross does not have the typical scenes of the Resurrection on one side and the Crucifixition on the other. This cross has the figure of Christ over a figure of a bishop on the east side, and St. Brigid's cross at the center of the cross on the west side. The high cross must have fallen several times as there are two inscriptions on it. One reads "This cross was newly repaired by Michael O'Dea, son of Connor Crone O'Dea in the year 1683." The other reads "Re-erected by Francis Hutchinson Synge of Dysert, Fourth son of the late Sir Edward Synge Bart and Mary Helena his wife, in the year 1871." Back to Home

Bibliography  T. Garton, "Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Ireland - Dysert O'Dea"  T. Garton, A Romanesque Doorway at Killaloe  Peter Harbison, Guide to National and Historic Monuments in Ireland  Peter Harbison, Irish High Crosses  F. Henry, Irish Art in the Romanesque Period  Leask, Irish Churches and Monastic Buildings, vol. 1  R. Stalley, Irish High Crosses  Images –Dysert O'Dea 1318Dysert O'Dea 1318 –Dysert O'DeaDysert O'Dea –Dysert O'Dea Archaeology Centre...Dysert O'Dea Archaeology Centre... –Dysert O'DeaDysert O'Dea Back to Home

Additional Links Official Website of Shannon Region Tourism - Dysert O'Dea Castle & Archaeology CentreOfficial Website of Shannon Region Tourism - Dysert O'Dea Castle & Archaeology Centre Art History at the College of Charleston Medieval Art Links National Museum of Ireland Back to Home