Clonmacnoise lies in a meander on the left bank of River Shannon, and it is one of the oldest early Christian settlements in Europe.
St. Ciarán along with Diarmait Uí Cerbaill founded it around 544 and he chose a central site in Ireland, at the crossroads of the main Irish river and the Esker Riada, the geological gravel and sand formation that stretches east-west across Ireland, so that the new monastery could be accessed from everywhere.
It soon became an important centre for studying religion and it attracted scholars and pupils from all over Europe, and grew into a large monastic city. It was also an important centre for craftmanship and trade.
In its best period it had up to 17 churches, but today only 7 of them survive in ruins. Along with these ruins, there are also three crosses and two round towers, one of which attached to a church.
This small church is north of the Cathedral, and halfway between O'Rourke Round Tower and Temple Finghin.
It's the only church in the complex to be still in use and its modern look makes it almost unnoticed.
It was built around 1200, but the only two elements that date to that time are the west (270°) doorway and a small round-headed window in the south wall.
The church is a place of worship for the Church of Ireland since the 18th century, it was heavily restored in the 19th century and again in the early 20th century.
On the north side of the church, adjoining the north wall, is the large tomb for the Malone family.
We came to Clonmacnoise for the first time on July 4th, 1994, and again on May 18th, 2002.
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