Clonmacnoise

The monastery of Clonmacnoise, is located in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone. Clonmacnoise became founded in 544 through St. Ciaran, a young man from Rathcroghan, County Roscommon. Until the 9th century it had close associations with the kings of Connacht. Saint Ciarán pick out to observed the monastery in the ancient territory of Ui Maine at a point in which the principal East-West land path meets the River Shannon after crossing the bathrooms of Central Ireland referred to as the Esker Riada.

The strategic region of the monastery helped it end up a major centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship, and trade by way of the 9th century and collectively with Clonard it was the maximum well-known in Ireland, visited by means of pupils from all over Europe. From the ninth till the 11th century it was allied with the kings of Meath. Many of the high kings of Tara and Connacht had been buried right here. The preserved smash is managed with the aid of the Office of Public Works. An Interpretive Centre is open to the public, the graveyard is in use and spiritual services are held in a present day chapel.