St. Tolas Cross

On a low mound in a field c. 120m E of Dysert O’Dea Romanesque church (CL025-091001-). This is the high cross of St. Tola, traditionally the founder of the monastic site, listed in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996) as ‘Cross’ and sometimes known as the ‘White cross of Tola’. Described by Harbison (1992, 83-6) as a Romanesque limestone cross (H 2.77m to the top of the head, without the modern capstone; Wth 1.02m across the arms; tapering shaft 0.65m x 0.37m at lower end) with a decorated base (H 0.5m; 1.28m x 1.02m), mounted on large squared decorated stones that may have formed part of an altar presumably from the nearby church. This in turn sits on a projecting modern base topped with flat flags. The cross was repaired in 1683 by Michael O’Dea and re-erected by F.H. Synge in 1871 as outlined in an inscription on the base of the E side (the bottom of the frame was cut away to allow for the inscription). The shaft is in two portions that do not fit well together. The great difference in the height of the relief between the two main figures and the variation in outlines, mouldings and ornament suggest the possibility of two different crosses although Harbison (ibid., 83) notes they are likely to be products of the same workshop and may have fitted together in the 12th century. The head of the cross has no ring and its corners are roll moulded with smaller ribs inside. Mortice-holes at the end of each arm suggest some sort of attachment. E FACE: The head of the E face shows the crucified Christ in high relief with outstretched arms. Christ’s head was fixed in position in 1883 and may not have belonged to the cross originally. The lower portion of the E face shows a bishop or abbot with pointed mitre and a crozier in the left hand, again in high relief. The right hand is missing and may originally have been inserted into a hole present at waist height. The base of the E face has a panel of interlace. The bottom of the panel was cut away for the following inscription: THIS CROSS WAS NEWLY REPAIRED BY MICHAEL O DEA SON OF CONNOR CRONE O DEA IN THE YEARE 1683. S FACE: The upper portion has an interlinking meander pattern. The lower cross shaft has three panels of interlaced animals. The base shows Daniel in the Lion’s Den and the following inscription: REERECTED BY FRANCIS HUTCHINSON SYNGE OF DYSART FOURTH SON OF THE LATE SIR EDWARD SYNGE BAR AND MARY HELENA HIS WIFE IN THE YEAR 1871. W FACE: The head of the W face has a St. Brigid’s cross consisting of five lozenges in relief and the S arm has two animals grasping a sphere in their jaws beneath which is a panel forming the motif of a cross with expanded terminals. The lower portion of the shaft has four panels of decoration, three with animal interlace and one with sunken crosses. The base of the W face shows Adam and Eve. N FACE: The Upper portion of the N face has a fret pattern and the cross shaft below this has three panels of animal interlacing. The base on this side shows an unidentified scene with two figures grasping a staff with a figure on the left holding a crook and another figure on the right who may also have held a staff. This is a national monument in State care. St. Tola’s holy well lies c. 240m to SE. (Westropp 1894; 156-8; Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 83-6; Swinfen 1992, 23; Ó Murchadha 1993, 36-42;).