Tola of Clonard
Encyclopedia
Saint Tola is the name of a seventh-century Irish
Roman Catholic saint
also referred to as "a good soldier of Christ". Tola, the reputed son of Donchad is also referred to as Thola or Tolanus. He died between 733 and 737.
Tola was the bishop of Clonard
in Meath, Ireland
and a crozier ascribed to him now resides in the NMI in Dublin. He sent missionaries to Europe and also helped aid the expansion of various scholarly studies.
About the year 700 he established a monastic community in northwestern Co. Clare, between the River Fergus and the Burren
. Portions of his original church, a very early church, or at least portions of its foundations were incorporated into the 11th century Romanesque Church that lies in ruins near Corofin. The High Cross
located here, at Dysert O'Dea (or the hermitage or desert of the O'Dea clan - who took control centuries later), is referred to as Tola's Cross, Crusha baunala or "the cross of blessing". It is from the 11th or 12th century, however, and there is no direct connect between the saint and this particular, late, high cross although one of the figures on the cross appears to be that of a bishop, perhaps St. Tola.
His feast day is celebrated March 30.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Roman Catholic saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
also referred to as "a good soldier of Christ". Tola, the reputed son of Donchad is also referred to as Thola or Tolanus. He died between 733 and 737.
Tola was the bishop of Clonard
Clonard Abbey
Clonard Abbey was an early medieval monastery situated on the River Boyne, just beside the traditional boundary line of the northern and southern halves of Ireland in modern County Meath...
in Meath, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and a crozier ascribed to him now resides in the NMI in Dublin. He sent missionaries to Europe and also helped aid the expansion of various scholarly studies.
About the year 700 he established a monastic community in northwestern Co. Clare, between the River Fergus and the Burren
The Burren
The Burren is a karst-landscape region or alvar in northwest County Clare, in Ireland. It is one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe. The region measures approximately 250 square kilometres and is enclosed roughly within the circle made by the villages Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Tubber, Corofin,...
. Portions of his original church, a very early church, or at least portions of its foundations were incorporated into the 11th century Romanesque Church that lies in ruins near Corofin. The High Cross
High Cross
High Cross is the name of a number of locations in the United Kingdom:England*High Cross, Cambridgeshire*High Cross, Constantine, Cornwall*High Cross, Truro, Cornwall*High Cross, East Sussex*High Cross, Hampshire*High Cross, Hertfordshire...
located here, at Dysert O'Dea (or the hermitage or desert of the O'Dea clan - who took control centuries later), is referred to as Tola's Cross, Crusha baunala or "the cross of blessing". It is from the 11th or 12th century, however, and there is no direct connect between the saint and this particular, late, high cross although one of the figures on the cross appears to be that of a bishop, perhaps St. Tola.
His feast day is celebrated March 30.