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. It was visited by the Pope in 1979. The site can be visited for a fee, via an Interpretative Centre.
The modern village of Clonmacnoise is
beside the monastery on the R444 regional road 7 km north of
Shannonbridge,
County Offaly.
History
Clonmacnoise was founded in 545 by Saint Ciarán in the territory
of Ui Maine 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 St. Finnian of Clonard and also
by Abbot St. Enda of Aran.
Shortly after his arrival with eight companions, Ciarán met
Diarmait mac Cerbaill 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
and was buried reputedly in the building now known as Temple
Ciaran; he was in his early thirties.
The strategic location of the monastery helped it become a major
centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade by the 9th
century and together with Clonard it was the most famous in
Ireland, being visited by scholars from all over Europe. Until the
9th century it had close associations with the kings of Connacht
and then until the 11th century it was alliance with the kings of
Mide. Many of the high kings of Tara and Connacht were buried here.
It was attacked frequently, by the Vikings, Anglo-Normans
and other Irish forces.
All the early buildings including churches were of wood and have
not survived. They were replaced in stone by the tenth century
onwards when Clonmacnoise became a bishopric. It also produced many
fine examples of Celtic gold and silverware, which is preserved in
Dublin museums.
After the 12th century it fell into decline. The English built a
castle next to the monastery in the 13th century and the whole
settlement was finally sacked in 1552 by an English garrison from
Athlone which reduced it to a ruin.
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.
- 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 c.800.
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 c.900. The surface of the
cross has been divided into panels, showing scenes including the
Crucifixion, the Last Judgement, and Christ in the Tomb. While the
original one has been moved into the visitors centre, a replica
stands outdoors in the original place.
- 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 altar in 1198.
- Temple Melaghlin: Built c.1200.
- Museum Buildings
- South Cross which faces north.
- Temple Dowling: Built in the 11th century, named after Edmund
Dowling, who renovated it in 1689.
- Temple Hurpan: Built in the 17th century.
- Entrance
The Fairy's or Horseman's
Stone
Near the Chapel of Clonfinlough at Clonmacnoise there are
several limestone boulders, one of which is called the Fairy's or
Horseman's Stone. It has many cup-shaped hollows, crosses, daggers,
and a pair of human feet (an example of a Petrosomatoglyph)
possibly connected with the inauguration of Celtic chieftains.
Dunadd in Scotland has a well-known example of this Celtic
tradition.
The
Annals of Clonmacnoise
The Annals of Clonmacnoise chronicle events in Ireland from
pre-history to A.D. 1408. The original manuscript or manuscripts
are lost, and the names of its compilers are unknown. It is
so-called because it was thought to be based on materials gathered
at the monastery of Clonmacnoise, though there is some doubt about
this.
References
Шаблон:Reflist
See also
- Abbot of Clonmacnoise, for a list of abbots
- Bishop of Clonmacnoise, for a list of bishops
- Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway
- Quern (tombstone) - a tombstone from Clonmacnoise
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Offaly)
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External
links