Cross — High cross in Dysart (moyashel & Magheradernon By.)

In 1837 John O’Donovan wrote in the Ordnance Survey Letters that the parish of Dysart was named after St. Maol Tuile ‘whose memory was celebrated at his holy wells (WM025-109----) in the glebe about 30 years ago on the 28th or 29th of May’ (OSL vol. 1, 152). The Martyrology of Donegal recorded the 29th of May as the feast day of Maoltuile whose ‘baculus [or pastoral staff] works miracles on perjurers before they go out of the church. His well, and his yellow bell and his baculus and his statue, are there still. This is the first Maoltuile’ (O’Donovan 1864, 445). The Martyrology of Donegal lists the 30th of July as the feast day of the second ‘Maoltuile, son of Nochar’ (ibid.). An early Christian monastery (WM025-110003-) or hermitage (dísirt) was founded here in the late 8th or early 9th century by Maol Tuile who died before the year 830. He was reputedly the son of Nóchaire of the Ceinéal Laoghaire of Meath (Ó Riain 2011, 447). Maol Tuile of Díseart (Dysart) was associated with Maol Ruain of Tallaght.  A small decorated sandstone pyramidal-shaped cross-base (H 0.55m; top Wth 0.29m; base Wth 0.32m) with a rectangular mortice or socket (dims. 0.12m x 0.07m x D 0.06m) on top which stands 2.2m N of the NW angle of Dysart Church ruins (WM025-110002-) in W quadrant of graveyard (WM025-110004-). Three faces of the cross are decorated with poorly preserved carvings that are difficult to identify. The carvings are framed by incised panels. The fourth face of the cross-base is now very smooth and may originally have had a carved surface. The present N face of the base has a carved figure which is difficult to interpret. It could be a very naïve or primitive style folk carving of the crucified Christ. The figure has a rounded face with arms stretched out hands upright similar to the Orans or upright praying position. There is a carving at the base of the figure which is difficult to decipher but could be a serpent or snake like animal. The carving of the Christ like figure may not be the crucifixion but could be a monk in the Orans position with hands upright standing on top of a serpent. The current east side of the base is divided into four quadrants with a double line cross, the current west face is also decorated with an hourglass or figure 8 type symbol, which could be a face or some other symbol. Possible carving of Christ crucified in primitive or naïve style and is similar in style to the carving of Christ crucified on a cross shaft in Killaloe Cathedral, Co. Clare.  The cross base has been removed for its own safety to temporary secure storage with Westmeath County Council until a more permanent storage solution can be found. This was undertaken in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland and the Westmeath Heritage Officer (pers. comm. Catherin McLoughlin 20/11/2025). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien based on details kindly provided by Derek John Date of Compilation: 01 December 2025