clonmacnoisns.ie

History:
Clonmacnois was founded by St. Ciaran, the son of a Master Craftsman.
The settlement soon became a major centre of religion, learning, trade, craftmanship and politics, thanks in large part to its position at the major crossroads of the River Shannon and gravel ridges of the glacial eskers.
The settlement was also situated between the two provinces of Meath and Connacht and benifited from the patronage of powerful provincial Kings. Clonmacnois was origionally associated with Connacht but from the 9th to 11th century allied itself with Meath. In the late 11th & 12th century allegiance reverted once again to Connacht. The last king of Ireland Rory O Connor was buried in Clonmacnois Catheral in 1198.
Like nearly all monastic settlements in Ireland, Clonmacnois was plundered on several occcasions by invaders, including the Vikings and Anglo Normans and also by local Irish chieftains. It then fell into decline from the 13th century onwards until it was destroyed in 1552 by the English Garrsion from nearby Athlone.

The Round Towers:
The old graveyard beside our school has two round towers. One of them is attached to St. Finghin's Church. (McCarthys tower) and dates from the 12th century. The other round tower is called O' Rourkes tower and is situated in the north west of the graveyard. The doorway is 3.3m high above ground level. The monks built the round towers to save themselves and their belongings from the Vikings. However it is likely that the books and chalices, ciboriums, gold and silver crosses and other artefacts were stored there when the monastery was attacked.The round towers are beside the river Shannon. O'Rourkes tower got struck by lightening on the top. The tower stayed up but the top fell off.
There are 5 floors in the round tower. Now the monastery is a Heritage centre and people from different countries come to see it.

Grave slabs:
Clonmacnois has a large collection of graveslabs dating from the 8th to the 12th century. The greatest collection of pre Norman graveslabs in Britain or Ireland came from Clonmacnois. They were carved during the period 700-1200 AD (approximately) and examples of all the major types of graveslabs have been found. They are made from sandstone. Many are broken and only partial inscriptions remain. One of the inscriptions reads " Or Do Thuathal Saer".

Photos of graveslabs:
Copyright © Dr. Deborah Vess 1999. All rights reserved.

The New Graveyard
People from different Parishes like Ballinahowen, Athlone, High Street and Moore come to bury their deceased and they do so because it's such a holy place. People used to come from accross the Shannon. They brought the deceased accross the river by boat. There are alot of historical events associated with the graveyard. There is no major road beside it so it's nice and quiet. There is such a high demand for plots that the graveyard needs an extension but the O.P.W. (Office of Public Works) don't want the graveyard to be extended and the Co. Council want to locate a new graveyard nearby. There were bones found underground and the O.P.W. want to preserve our underground heritage which is a good thing. However local people like to bury their relatives in Clonmacnois just as they have been doing for centuries.