Clonmacnoise

The monastery of Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nóis in Irish, meaning "Meadow of the Sons of Nós") is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone. Clonmacnoise was founded in 545 by Ciaran of Clonmacnoise. Until the 9th century it had close associations with the kings of Connacht. The strategic location of the monastery helped it become a major centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade by the 9th century and together with Clonard it was the most famous in Ireland, visited by scholars from all over Europe. From the ninth until the eleventh century it was allied with the kings of Mide. Many of the high kings of Tara and Connacht were buried here. In the territory of Ui Maine, shortly after his arrival with eight companions at the point where the major east-west land route through the bogs of central Ireland along the Eiscir Riada, an esker or moraine left by the receding glaciers of the last ice age crossed the River Shannon, Saint Ciarán, who had been educated by Finnian of Clonard and Enda of Aran, met Diarmait mac Cerbaill who helped him build the first church at the site — a small wooden structure and the first of many small churches to be clustered on the site. Diarmuid was to claim the title of the first Christian High King of Ireland. Ciaran died about one year later of the yellow plague and was buried reputedly in the building now known as Temple Ciaran; he was in his early thirties. It was attacked frequently, by the Vikings, Normans and other Irish forces. All the early buildings including churches were of wood and have not survived. They were replaced in stone by the tenth century onwards when Clonmacnoise became a bishopric. It also produced many fine examples of Celtic gold and silverware, which is preserved in Dublin museums. After the 12th century it fell into decline. The Normans built a castle next to the monastery in the 13th century and the whole settlement was finally sacked in 1552 by an English garrison from Athlone which reduced it to a ruin. It was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1979. The site can be visited for a fee, via an Interpretative Centre. A visit to Clonmacnoise is recommended by boat from Shannonbridge each and every Sunday during the summer. Source: Wikipedia