Clonmacnoise

A vestige of the past, the Clonmacnoise Monastery is a must-see if you want to immerse yourself in Irish history. Clonmanoise will take you back in time, to the monasteries and religious hamlets where priests and disciples lived together in a veritable cultural center where the qualities of knowledge and faith were extolled… In truth, it was one of the greatest academic and religious centers of its time!

History of the Clonmacnoise Monastery

One of the most important cultural and religious centers in Europe

Clonmacnoise – © dsg_doe

The origins of Clonmacnoise date back to 545, when the priest Saint Ciarán decided to build a wooden church at the top of an esker, so as to be able to contemplate the unrivalled panorama overlooking the Shannon and the rest of County Offaly. With the help of a man known as Diarmait mac Cerbaill, they set about building the church, completing it just a few months before Saint Ciarán succumbed to the yellow plague.

Over the centuries, the buildings around the church grew to form a veritable hamlet, where priests and disciples devoted their time to learning Christian texts, Irish grammar and the knowledge of the time.

Such was Clonmacnoise’s renown that it became one of the greatest academic and religious centers of the time. Its influence extended from the 6th to the 12th century!

Because of its renown, many kings of the province of Connaught and the House of Tara chose to be buried at Clonmacnoise. You’ll have the chance to stroll around the graves of some of the greatest figures in Irish history!

Visit Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise Monastery(Cluain Mhic Nóis in Irish Gaelic) is located in County Offaly, on the banks of the River Shannon, not far from the town of Athlone. Easily accessible, you’ll then be faced with magnificent ruins including a collapsed cathedral, 8 churches and 2 round towers. Here is an overview of the different buildings you can visit:

The Cathedral

Built by Abbot Colmán, the cathedral took 5 centuries to complete (10th to 15th centuries). Some sections of the cathedral walls are still standing. Don’t miss the main door, with its magnificent archway.

Don’t hesitate to whisper: visitors all agree that the cathedral’s acoustics allow you to be heard perfectly!

The churches of Clonmacnoise

Temple Finghín church: This Romanesque church dates back to the 12th century. The latter features a round tower where old books were once stored. According to historians, this tower protected some particularly important writings, based on illumination and calligraphy.
Temple Connor Church: This church was officially requisitioned by the Church of Ireland in the 12th century as a place for the official practice of the Catholic religion. Rather imposing, Temple Connor was one of the main places of worship at the time, and considered the second largest church on the site, until the cathedral was built…
Temple Ciarán Church: Built in homage to Saint Ciarán, founder of Clonmacnoise, this small church has rather modest dimensions (barely 3 metres wide and 4 metres high). Legend has it that this church is the burial place of the saint…
Temple Daimliag Church: Built in 909, this stone church is well worth a visit. Although it’s in ruins, you’ll be immersed in a world quite different from that of the other churches in Clonmacnoise.
Temple Melaghlin church: built in the 13th century.
Temple Dowling Church: built in the 11th century and renovated in 1689 by Edmund Dowling.

The round towers

The Chronicum Scotorum: also dating from the 12th century, this round tower was built on the orders of Turlough O’Connor, King of Connachtet. It was in 1135 that it partially collapsed due to a lightning strike.

Celtic crosses

La Croix du Nord: this Celtic cross was erected in the 7th century, making it the oldest Celtic cross in Clonmacnoise.
La Croix du Sud: this Celtic cross is magnificently ornamented with interlacing.
The Carved Cross: this 10th-century Celtic cross features a number of texts finely carved in stone. It is said to be a prayer addressed to Flann, King of Ireland.