Clonmacnoise Monastery

About this place

Clonmacnoise is a ruined monastery on the River Shannon in County Offaly, south of Athlone. Saint Ciarán founded it in 544, and by the ninth century it was a major centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade, visited by scholars from all over Europe. It is one of the most famous monastic sites in Ireland. Ciarán arrived with seven companions at the point where the main east-west land route met the river, built a small wooden church with Diarmait mac Cerbaill, and died of plague in 549. Many kings of Tara and Connacht were buried here. The site was largely abandoned by the end of the thirteenth century. A €7.8 million redevelopment of the visitor centre is now under way. Today the site holds nine ruined churches, a castle, two round towers and a large number of carved stone crosses and cross-slabs. The tall round tower looks over green meadows, a wide river and low plains. The graveyard is still in use, and services take place in a modern chapel. The monastery is 11.2 km in a straight line south of Athlone and 26 km north of Birr. It is fully closed from 19 October to 1 January 2027 because of car park works, so do not plan to come before then. It is a place of worship and a working graveyard, so keep quiet and do not sit on graves. The ground is open to the wind.