Dysert O Dea monastery
Encyclopedia
Dysert O'Dea Church near Corofin in County Clare
, Ireland
stands on the site of an early Christian monastery which was founded by St. Tola, who died in about A.D. 735, although most of the present buildings are from the 12th century.
. The church contains many long forgotten graves with some lovely crosses. The most interesting parts of the church are the east window, which is made up of three tall arches, and the beautifully carved doorway, made of four arches. The most significant arch is the first one, which is made of many faces (humans, dogs, and birds). The other three, inner, arches are carved with different patterns.
The round tower survives as a five metre stump. The doorway is present near the top of the stump and there are two arrow-slit windows at ground level.
, St. Tola's high cross
(with a carving of Christ being crucified), two ring forts, the remains of a fulacht fiadh
, and the ruins of a stone Victorian house dating from 1861.
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
stands on the site of an early Christian monastery which was founded by St. Tola, who died in about A.D. 735, although most of the present buildings are from the 12th century.
Architecture
The Dysert O'Dea monastic site is home to the Dysert O'Dea Church and the remains of a round towerIrish round tower
Irish round towers , Cloigthithe – literally "bell house") are early medieval stone towers of a type found mainly in Ireland, with three in Scotland and one on the Isle of Man...
. The church contains many long forgotten graves with some lovely crosses. The most interesting parts of the church are the east window, which is made up of three tall arches, and the beautifully carved doorway, made of four arches. The most significant arch is the first one, which is made of many faces (humans, dogs, and birds). The other three, inner, arches are carved with different patterns.
The round tower survives as a five metre stump. The doorway is present near the top of the stump and there are two arrow-slit windows at ground level.
Nearby
This monastic site is part of the Dysert O'Dea Archaeological Trail. There are many more historical sites in the immediate vicinity including O'Dea CastleO'Dea Castle
O'Dea Castle is an Irish fortified tower house, loosely described as a castle, at Dysert O'Dea , the former O'Dea clan stronghold, 5 km from Corofin, County Clare just off the R476 road....
, St. Tola's high cross
High cross
A high cross or standing cross is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. There was a unique Early Medieval tradition in Ireland and Britain of raising large sculpted stone crosses, usually outdoors...
(with a carving of Christ being crucified), two ring forts, the remains of a fulacht fiadh
Fulacht fiadh
A fulacht fiadh is a type of archaeological site found in Ireland. In England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man they are known as burnt mounds. They commonly survive as a low horseshoe-shaped mound of charcoal-enriched soil and heat shattered stone with a slight depression at its centre showing...
, and the ruins of a stone Victorian house dating from 1861.
External links
See also
- O'Dea
- O'Dea CastleO'Dea CastleO'Dea Castle is an Irish fortified tower house, loosely described as a castle, at Dysert O'Dea , the former O'Dea clan stronghold, 5 km from Corofin, County Clare just off the R476 road....
- List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Clare)