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.
Of all the churches at the monastic settlement, this one is in the worst state of conservation. As a matter of fact, nothing remains of this church apart from the outline of east wall and of two short segments of the south and north wall.
It was probably a 12th century church.
We came to Clonmacnoise for the first time on July 4th, 1994, and again on May 18th, 2002.
|