Clonmacnoise

Encyclopedia : C : CL : CLO : Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise viewed from the River Shannon

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.

Foundation

Clonmacnoise was founded in 545 by Saint Ciarán 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 had been educated by Saint Diarmuid of Clonard and Saint Finian.

Shortly after his arrival, Ciarán met Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill who helped him build the first church — 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; he was in his early thirties.

Buildings and High Crosses

Temple Finghín. Romanesque church with round tower. 12th century. Vandalism of this church in 1864 by a person from Birr on a 'pleasure party' to the Seven Churches (as Clonmacnoise was then often termed), led to a landmark case when a prosecution was brought against the vandal by the Crown, due to the activity of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. The remains of the funds which had been raised for the prosecution were later used by the Society to repair the cap of the church's tower, which was in need of conservation.
Temple Connor. Church used by the Church of Ireland since the 18th century.

Temple Finghin with its attached round tower

Round Tower. The Chronicum Scotorum, records that it was finished in 1124 by Turlough O'Connor, king of Connacht, and Gilla Christ Ua Maoileoin, abbot of Clonmacnoise. 11 years later it was struck by lightning, which knocked off the head of the tower. The upper part of the tower is later work, so there is some speculation that the masonry thus toppled in the storm of 1135 may have been reused in the building of Temple Finghín.
North Cross. Oldest of the four crosses. Created around 800 A.D. Only the sandstone shaft and base survive. The base is a former millstone.
Temple Kelly.
Temple Ciarán. At 2.8 by 3.8 metres, the smallest church in Clonmacnoise. Believed to contain the grave of the founder St. Ciaran.
Cross of the Scriptures. This 4-metre high sandstone cross is one of the most skillfully executed of the surviving high crosses in Ireland, and of particular interest for its surviving inscription, which asks a prayer for Flann, King of Ireland, and Colmán who made the cross, both individuals who were also responsible for the building of the Cathedral. The cross was carved from a single piece of sandstone around 900 A.D. The surface of the cross has been divided into panels, showing scenes including the Crucifixion, the Last Judgement, and Christ in the Tomb.

Clonmacnoise Castle

Cathedral (or daimliag in Irish, meaning literally "stone church", to distinguish it from the earlier wooden buildings). Built in 909 (Chronicum Scotorum) by Flann Sianna, King of Tara and Abbot Colmán, although the west doorway is a later insertion of c.1180, and the north doorway, often called Dean Odo's doorway from its incription dates to the mid-15th century and is Gothic in style. It is the largest of the churches at Clonmacnoise. Rory O'Connor, the last High King of Ireland, was buried near the alter in 1198.
Temple Melaghlin. Built around 1200 A.D..
Museum Buildings
South Cross.
Temple Dowling. Built in the 11th century. Named after Edmund Dowling, who renovated it in 1689.
Temple Hurpan. Built in the 17th century.
Entrance

References

Clonmacnoise Visitors' Guide, published by Duchas, The Heritage Service.

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.