Beautiful and Ancient, Clonmacnoise Monastery sits peacefully on a bend of the Shannon River amidst meadows, where cows rest in the fresh green grasses and the river flows slowly by with barely a ripple. These famous monastery remnants are about 1½ hour west of Dublin, and just south of the town of Athlone.
St. Ciaran, the son of a master craftsman, founded the monastery in 548 and cleverly built it on the King’s Highway, a main ridge road between the kingdoms of Leinster and Connacht. Clonmacnoise is believed to mean "Meadow of the Sons of Nós".
Unfortunately, one year later St. Ciaran died of yellow fever and was buried under their original wooden church. This is where the 9th century stone ruin of Temple Ciaran now stands.
Unfortunately, one year later St. Ciaran died of yellow fever and was buried under their original wooden church. This is where the 9th century stone ruin of Temple Ciaran now stands.
What looks so peaceful now was not so peaceful during the centuries the monastery flourished. They were attacked first by the native Irish 27 times, and then attacked at least six times by the Vikings.
Round towers with wooden floors separating the tall space, were used during those times as a place to store important religious treasures, a bell tower and sometimes a place of sanctuary during assault. The door to the tower was several feet above the ground and accessible by ladder only.
Round towers with wooden floors separating the tall space, were used during those times as a place to store important religious treasures, a bell tower and sometimes a place of sanctuary during assault. The door to the tower was several feet above the ground and accessible by ladder only.
The monastery became Ireland’s most important center for Christian religion, literature, art and learning for 600 years. During that time it was the burial place for the Kings of Connacht and the High Kings of Tara. The last High King of Ireland, Rory O’Connor, was buried in Clonmacnoise’s cathedral in 1198. By that time, the monastery had 13 churches.
The community continued to be a monastery of great importance until the 12th century, when the Normans invaded. After that, the monastery declined to an unimportant backwater religious community.
But, it wasn’t until 1552 that the monastery was destroyed, when an English army regiment marched down from Athlone, ruined the buildings and stole all the treasures including the monastery books, stained glass and church bells. The remains of the ruined churches are dotted across the graveyards and fields which are encircled within the low stone walls of the monastery enclosure.
But, it wasn’t until 1552 that the monastery was destroyed, when an English army regiment marched down from Athlone, ruined the buildings and stole all the treasures including the monastery books, stained glass and church bells. The remains of the ruined churches are dotted across the graveyards and fields which are encircled within the low stone walls of the monastery enclosure.
The Clonmacnoise Interpretive Center and Museum houses exhibits depicting the history of Clonmacnoise and the area, archeological artifacts, including the original Celtic stone crosses and stone grave-slabs, which were brought indoors for preservation and display, and information on the people who would have lived and worked there. Don’t leave without visiting the center because it brings the silent stone ruins to life.
One last note! You can use the interactive iPhone app provided on-line (CLICK HERE FOR APP) to guide you through the of the ancient monastery ruins while showing you a virtual picture of what each ruin would have looked like and how they would have been used. I wish I had known about this app when we were there!
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