Clonmacnoise Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
monastery in County Offaly, Ireland
About Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise was a prehistoric crossroads at the centre of Ireland which became a great religious centre. Much of the land was bog, but you could travel north-south on the River Shannon, and east-west on the Esker Riada, a line of low sandy ridges created by glaciers. The esker ridges had created the bogs, by blocking valleys so lakes backed up that infilled as wetland; but being themselves well-drained they supported travel, habitations and farming, so villages grew up along them. Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nóis, "meadow of the sons of Nós") was the point where the Shannon cut through the ridge and was already important long before its monastery was founded. Ciarán mac an tSaeir (circa 516-549) meaning "son of the carpenter" was probably born in Rathcrogan, County Roscommon. He was a pries
Top Attractions in Clonmacnoise
Explore the best things to see and do in Clonmacnoise:
- ★The Monastery
Where to Stay in Clonmacnoise
- 🏨Clonmacnoise B&B
- 🏨Kajon House
Clonmacnoise Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: