Clonmacnoise Monastic Site (Cluain Mhic Nóis) – County Offaly, Ireland
Saint Ciarán founded the monastery in 544 in the ancient territory of Uí Maine at a point where the major east–west land route (Slighe Mhor) meets the River Shannon. The strategic location of the monastery helped it become a major center of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade by the 9th century; and together with Clonard Abbey it was one of the most famous places in Ireland, visited by scholars from all over Europe. From the ninth until the eleventh century it was allied with the kings of Meath. Many of the high kings of Tara (ardrí) and of Connacht were buried here.
Clonmacnoise was largely abandoned by the end of the 13th century. Today the site includes nine ruined churches, two round towers and a large number of carved stone crosses and cross-slabs. The Irish government’s Office of Public Works manages the preserved site. An Interpretive Centre is open to the public, the adjacent graveyard is still in use today and religious services take place in a modern chapel. (source: Wikipedia)
