Clonmacnoise
Monastery Founded By St Ciaran Around 544 On The River Shannon, With High Crosses, Two Round Towers And Cathedral Ruins; National Monument In OPW Care · Shannonbridge, Offaly
Clonmacnoise is the great monastic site of the Irish midlands, founded around 544 by St Ciaran where an ancient road along a glacial ridge met the River Shannon. For some six hundred years it was one of the leading centres of learning, craft and religion in Europe, a burial place of kings including Rory O'Connor, the last High King of Ireland, and a target for raiders, Irish and Viking alike. Today it is a field of ruins above the river's flood meadows: a cathedral, seven or more small churches, two round towers and some of the finest high crosses in Ireland, with the carved originals kept indoors in the visitor centre. Pope John Paul II came here in 1979, and pilgrims still gather on St Ciaran's feast day in September. People come for the crosses, the calm river setting and a clear sense of early Christian Ireland. The honest caveats: it is flat, open and windy, the ruins are modest in scale, there is no public transport, and midday tour coaches can crowd a small site.
Clonmacnoise, on the east bank of the River Shannon about 7 km north of Shannonbridge and 20 km south of Athlone, County Offaly, Shannonbridge, Offaly, Ireland
Clonmacnoise is open all year, daily, roughly from mid-morning to late afternoon, with longer hours in summer and a closure over Christmas (confirm current hours). Entry to the enclosed monastic site is through the OPW visitor centre, with the exhibition, the audio-visual show and the original high crosses included in the ticket; guided tours are offered in the main season (confirm). The site is about 7 km north of Shannonbridge and 20 km south of Athlone by car; there is no scheduled bus, so drive, take a taxi from Athlone station or join a tour. No booking is needed except for groups.