Jessica Murray
BADM 562
Due: February 22, 2010
Clonmacnoise, Ireland
Clonmacnoise is a monastic site overlooking the River Shannon in County
Offaly, it was founded in 548 by St. Cairan. While religion was the central focus of
Clonmacnoise, it was also a major center of learning, trade, craftsmanship, and
politics due to its strategic position on at the crossroads of the River Shannon and
gravel ridges of the glacial eskers. The settlement was also positioned between two
provinces: Meath and Connacht, and benefited from powerful provincial kings. The
last high king of Ireland, Rory O’Connor was buried in Clonmacnoise’s cathedral in
1198. Invasions by the Vikings and Anglo-Normans led to the decline of
Clonmacnoise in the 13th century. It was destroyed shortly thereafter in 1552 by the
English garrison from nearby Athlone.
Today, the monastery of Clonmacnoise is in ruins, but is still an essential
piece or Ireland’s history. The site is located between the cities of Dublin and
Galway. The extensive ruins include a cathedral, castle, round tower, numerous
churches, two important high crosses, and a large collection of early Christian grave
slabs.
The round tower is near the visitors’ center and museum, which was built in
1124 by successors of the founder St. Ciaran. The largest of the churches at the site
is the Cathedral, originally built in 909 by the King of Tara. The original brown
sandstone can be seen in the north wall. The west door is a transitional style
between Romanesque and Gothic architecture and dates from about 1200. The last
high king of Ireland, Rory O’Connor was buried near the altar in 1198. Originally
standing in front of the Cathedral is the Cross of the Scriptures, dating from about
900 AD, is one of the finest high crosses in Ireland. To learn more about
Clonmacnoise, one ought to visit the on-site museum, which includes a visual
timeline of the site, the original high crosses of the site, and a collection of early
Christian gravestones dating from the 8th through the 12th centuries.