In the sixth century, St Ciarán built his monastery on the Shannon’s banks. The monastery thrived and grew into a major centre of study, a university in its own right, with students from all across Europe. A Cathedral, two round Towers, three high crosses, nine Churches, and approximately 700 Early Christian grave slabs are among the remains. The ancient high crosses, notably the spectacular 10th century Cross of the Scriptures, are on exhibit in the monastery enclosure’s purpose-built tourist centre.
The site is accessed through the tourist centre, which has a number of cross slabs. The Cross of the Scriptures is the focal point of the tourist centre, and an audiovisual exhibition recounts Clonmacnoise’s long and varied history. There are multilingual guided tours of the site available, as well as displays about the region’s flora, wildlife, and scenery. But you don’t have to be a history buff to appreciate Clonmacnoise’s serenity and tranquilly, which it has enjoyed for generations on the banks of the beautiful Shannon. A trip to Offaly would not be complete without a stop to this most unique of locations – even Pope John Paul II came by on his 1979 visit to Ireland.
