The ancient monastic settlement of Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mic Nois, "Meadow of the Son of Nos") lies in the heart of Ireland, on high ground above the east bank of the Shannon. The walled precinct of the monastery is like a large and lonely churchyard with its many graves scattered about amid the ruins of buildings and high crosses of the Early
Christian and medieval periods. The site is a National Monument.
The pleasantest - if slowest - way to reach Clonmacnoise is by boat from Athlone. The road from Athlone to Shannonbridge runs just past the site.
According to tradition the monastery was founded in January, 545 by St Ciaran, who died in the same year. It developed into the most celebrated religious center in Ireland and soon gained the status of a university. The monks working in its scriptoria produced valuable manuscripts including the "Book of the Dun Cow" (11th century) and the "Annals of Tighernach" (12th century), and it also had craftsmen producing crosiers, reliquaries and other articles. The precious objects it contained no doubt attracted the raiders who plundered and burned the monastery several times between 834 and 1204 - first the Vikings, then in the 12th century the Normans, who in 1179 reduced more than 100 buildings to ashes. The monastery fell into final ruin, however, only after English troops from Athlone had carried off all they could lay their hands on in 1552 and the site was devastated once again by Cromwell's troops 100 years later. Since 1955 Clonmacnoise has been under State protection as a National Monument.
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