Is Clonmacnoise free?

Is Clonmacnoise free?

All Visitors must have a ticket.

Is Clonmacnoise on the Shannon?

Leinster
Clonmacnoise/Province

How many years old is Clonmacnoise?

Clonmacnoise was founded in 546 by Ciarán, a young man from Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon. Until the 9th century it had close associations with the kings of Connacht.

Is Clonmacnoise an OPW site?

Saint Ciarán founded an abbey at Clonmacnoise nearly 1,500 years ago on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. Abbeys are religious communities including a monastery, or place where monks live.

Why was Clonmacnoise built?

It was a place of religious learning and a place of pilgrimage, renowned for its literary and artistic achievements and enjoying the patronage of Kings and Chieftains, who funded the construction of churches and high crosses. Two of the last High Kings of Ireland are buried there.

Who lived in Clonmacnoise?

The monastery was established in 544 by Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, one of the twelve early Irish monastic saints that also included Saint Columba of Iona. Both had trained at Clonard Abbey under Saint Finnian, one of the pioneers of the monasticism that would become an important element of Irish cultural identity.

What did they work as in Clonmacnoise?

There were important stone carving workshops at Clonmacnoise which produced High Crosses as well as grave slabs.

What did people work as in Clonmacnoise?

Many people lived and worked in Clonmacnoise. Like any community, people had different jobs and responsibilities. Monks worked as blacksmiths, carpenters and stonemasons. Some worked in the fields to produce food for the community.

What happened at Clonmacnoise?

Clonmacnoise was not always peaceful, over the centuries it was raided by both native Kings and later Vikings and even fought a notorious battle with the rival monastery of St Columba in Durrow. Buildings were destroyed and rebuilt many times.

Why is Clonmacnoise famous?

Clonmacnoise was the earliest and foremost Irish monastic city after the foundation of an abbey there by St. Ciaran about 545. It had become an important centre of learning by the 9th century, and several books of annals were compiled there.

Why was this location chosen for Clonmacnoise?

This location was particularly important because here the major east–west land route through the bogs of central Ireland along the Eiscir Riada (an esker left by the receding glaciers of the last ice age) crossed the River Shannon.

Why is Clonmacnoise a sacred place?

A Great Medieval City It was a place of religious learning and a place of pilgrimage, renowned for its literary and artistic achievements and enjoying the patronage of Kings and Chieftains, who funded the construction of churches and high crosses. Two of the last High Kings of Ireland are buried there.

How do I get to Clonmacnoise?

Getting to Clonmacnoise can be a problem — you will need a good road map and then follow quite small and winding country lanes. As the site is next to the Shannon and quite low you will only spot the towers in the last minute. The ancient crossroads were chosen by St. Ciarán to build his monastery in 545 with the support of King Dermot.

Is Clonmacnoise the best place to visit in County Offaly?

County Offaly doesn’t have that much to attract the visitor, so saying that the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise is one of the best attractions here might create a wrong image. In fact, it is one of the finest early Christian sites in Ireland .

Why visit Clonmacnoise monastery?

The monastery flourished for 600 years as a centre of learning and religious instruction as well as providing much of Ireland’s finest Celtic art and illuminated manuscripts. The surrounding area of Clonmacnoise is a microcosm of landscapes within the Midlands.

What is the significance of Clonmacnoise?

Clonmacnoise was a centre of learning excellence, and many manuscripts, including the including the Annals of Tighernach (11th century) and the Book of the Dun Cow (12th century), were written here. The monastery flourished for 600 years as a centre of learning and religious instruction as well as providing…